GIMAP Proteins in T-Lymphocytes

Sanna Filén1, Riitta Lahesmaa

  • 1Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Tykistökatu 6 B, P.O. BOX 123, 20520 Turku, Finland.

(GIMAPs) GTPase of the immunity associated protein family are a novel protein family of putative small GTPases. GIMAPs are mainly expressed in the cells of the immune system and have been associated with immunological functions, such as thymocyte development, apoptosis of peripheral lymphocytes and T helper cell differentiation. GIMAPs have also been linked to immunological diseases, such as T cell lymphopenia, leukemia and autoimmune diseases. In this review we examine the role of GIMAP proteins in T-lymphocyte biology.

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