Molecular Immunology
Silvia Monticelli, Group Leader
MicroRNAs are a class of small, non-coding RNAs, found in organisms ranging fromworms to plants and humans, where they function mostly as repressors of protein-coding genes. It is well known that cell development is controlled or modulated by an intricate network of growth and transcription factors that simultaneously regulate the commitment, proliferation, death, and maturation of progenitor cells. MicroRNAs appear ideally suited to rapidly adjust protein concentrations in cells, as would be expected to be required during cell differentiation; accordingly, certain microRNAs are expressed in a stage-specific fashion. Moreover, consistent with the discovery that microRNAs modulate gene expression, altered microRNA expression has been found to affect cancer development. Indeed, altered expression of specific microRNAs has been shown to promote tumorigenesis.
The aim of our study is to understand the mechanisms of microRNA regulation, as well as the role played by microRNAs in the development and function of cells of the immune systems. Specifically, we are investigating the role played by microRNAs in mast cells differentiation and function. This is particularly important in view of the fact that mast cells are specialized cells of the immune system that reside particularly in tissues (like the skin) that are more exposed to the environment, acting as sentinel cells at sites of antigen entry.
Besides being of fundamental relevance to our understanding of gene regulation, elucidation of the general molecular mechanisms that control mast cells differentiation, proliferation and functions have substantial potential for clinical application in the treatment of allergy and asthma, as well as of mast cell’s malignancies.