Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 23, 2026

Retroviral CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Targeting for the Study of Th17 Differentiation in Vitro
12:08

Retroviral CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Targeting for the Study of Th17 Differentiation in Vitro

Published on: November 15, 2024

1.1K

5-Fluorouracil targets thymidylate synthase in the selective suppression of TH17 cell differentiation

Juan Wang1,2, Liang Peng2, Ruihua Zhang2

  • 1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Oncotarget
|March 31, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Low dose 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) selectively suppresses TH17 and TH1 immune responses by targeting thymidylate synthase (TS). This finding reveals 5-FU

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cancer Biology

Background:

  • 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapy agent known to cause immune suppression in cancer patients.
  • The precise mechanisms by which 5-FU modulates immune cell function remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the specific effects of low-dose 5-FU on immune cell differentiation and function.
  • To investigate the role of thymidylate synthase (TS) in 5-FU-mediated immune modulation.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of immune cells with low-dose 5-FU.
  • Analysis of T helper cell differentiation (TH17, TH1, Treg, TH2).
  • Assessment of thymidylate synthase (TS) expression and function.
  • Utilizing a T cell transfer colitis model to evaluate in vivo efficacy.

Main Results:

  • Low-dose 5-FU selectively suppressed TH17 and TH1 cell differentiation, with minimal impact on Treg and TH2 cells.
  • 5-FU significantly reduced thymidylate synthase (TS) expression in TH17 and TH1 cells, more so than in tumor cells or macrophages.
  • TS knockdown impaired TH17 and TH1 differentiation, confirming its role in these T helper cell subsets.
  • Low-dose 5-FU ameliorated colitis in a mouse model by suppressing TH17 and TH1 cell development.

Conclusions:

  • Low-dose 5-FU exhibits significant anti-inflammatory properties by selectively targeting TH17 and TH1 immune responses.
  • The suppression of thymidylate synthase (TS) is a key mechanism underlying 5-FU's selective immunomodulatory effects.
  • These findings suggest potential therapeutic applications for low-dose 5-FU in inflammatory conditions.
Keywords:
5-FUImmune responseImmunityImmunology and Microbiology SectionTH17TS

More Related Videos

Adenoviral Transduction of Naive CD4 T Cells to Study Treg Differentiation15:33

Adenoviral Transduction of Naive CD4 T Cells to Study Treg Differentiation

Published on: August 13, 2013

16.5K
Rapid Identification of Chemical Genetic Interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae12:13

Rapid Identification of Chemical Genetic Interactions in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: April 5, 2015

10.9K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...
66
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
3.2K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
9.1K
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents01:29

Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder marked by chronic inflammation of the GI tract. Various treatment strategies for Crohn's disease are employed, such as immunomodulatory agents, glucocorticoids, and biologics or anti-TNF therapy. Azathioprine (Imuran), a commonly used immunomodulatory drug for Crohn's disease, is converted in the body to mercaptopurine, which inhibits purine biosynthesis and cell proliferation. Both are utilized in severe cases of Inflammatory Bowel...
657
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD01:29

Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition primarily affecting the colon and rectum. The primary drugs used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis are aminosalicylates. They exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. They modulate inflammatory mediators and inhibit the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Aminosalicylates also reduce inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin and leukotriene production and decreasing neutrophil chemotaxis and superoxide...
605
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
2.1K