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Published on: January 7, 2019
Nuclear receptors in human immune cells: expression and correlations
Andrea B Schote1, Jonathan D Turner, Jang Schiltz
1Institute of Immunology, Laboratoire National de Santé, 20A rue Auguste Lumière, L-1950 Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
Molecular Immunology
|July 14, 2006
Summary
This study reveals that most nuclear receptors (NR) are present in human immune cells, with some showing coordinated expression patterns. These findings highlight the potential roles of NR in immune system functions.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Nuclear receptors (NR) are crucial for gene transcription and cellular functions, but their roles in the immune system are not fully understood.
- Investigating NR expression in immune cells can uncover novel regulatory mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the expression patterns and distribution of 24 nuclear receptors in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
- To explore potential co-regulation of nuclear receptors within different immune cell lineages.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of mRNA and protein expression for 24 nuclear receptors in purified CD4, CD8, CD19, and CD14 immune cells.
- Spearman rank order correlation test to analyze co-expression patterns between nuclear receptor pairs.
Main Results:
- Evidence of expression for 12 nuclear receptors (CAR, CoupTFα, CoupTFβ, FXR, GCNF, HNF4α, PPARβ/δ, PXR, RevErbβ, TR2, TR4, TLX) in purified immune cells.
- Ubiquitous expression of most NR was observed across different immune cell types, with some exceptions like RARβ.
- Distinct and statistically significant co-expression patterns of NR pairs were identified within CD4 T cells and other immune cell types.
Conclusions:
- Nuclear receptors are widely expressed in human immune cells, suggesting a broad role in immune system regulation.
- Specific co-regulation patterns among nuclear receptors in immune cells indicate coordinated functions and potential therapeutic targets.
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