Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2026
10:09
Methods for Evaluating the Role of c-Fos and Dusp1 in Oncogene Dependence
Published on: January 7, 2019
No T without D3: a critical role for cyclin D3 in normal and malignant precursor T cells
1Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. aweng@partners.org
Cancer Cell
|January 7, 2004
Abstract:
A definitive knockout reported in this issue of Cancer Cell by Sicinska et al. reveals an unsuspected role for cyclin D3 in normal T cell development and suggests new therapeutic possibilities in precursor T cell leukemia.
Insights
Cyclin D3 plays a surprising role in T cell development, according to a new study. This finding opens avenues for novel therapies targeting precursor T cell leukemia.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- T cell development is a complex process crucial for adaptive immunity.
- Cyclins are key regulators of the cell cycle, but their specific roles in T cell differentiation are not fully understood.
Discussion:
- The study investigates the function of cyclin D3 in T cell development using a knockout model.
- Sicinska et al. report a definitive knockout of cyclin D3, providing clear evidence of its effects.
Key Insights:
- Cyclin D3 has an unsuspected role in normal T cell development.
- The absence of cyclin D3 impacts T cell maturation, highlighting its importance.
Outlook:
- The findings suggest potential new therapeutic strategies for precursor T cell leukemia.
- Targeting cyclin D3 could offer a novel approach to treating specific types of leukemia.
Related Concept Videos
02:34Inhibition of Cdk Activity
The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
02:23Abnormal Proliferation
Under normal conditions, most adult cells remain in a non-proliferative state unless stimulated by internal or external factors to replace lost cells. Abnormal cell proliferation is a condition in which the cell's growth exceeds and is uncoordinated with normal cells. In such situations, cell division persists in the same excessive manner even after cessation of the stimuli, leading to persistent tumors. The tumor arises from the damaged cells that replicate to pass the damage to the daughter...
02:39Positive Regulator Molecules
Mitotic cell division results in daughter cells that exactly resemble the parent cell. However, errors in the DNA replication or distribution of genetic material may lead to genetic mutations that may be passed down to every new cell formed from the resulting abnormal cell. Propagation of such mutant cells is restricted through checkpoint mechanisms present at different stages of the cell cycle. These checkpoints involve regulator molecules that either promote or demote cell cycle events.
01:45Positive Regulator Molecules
To consistently produce healthy cells, the cell cycle—the process that generates daughter cells—must be precisely regulated.
02:38Mitogens and the Cell Cycle
Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...