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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Detection of RNA-binding Proteins by In Vitro RNA Pull-down in Adipocyte Culture
Published on: July 22, 2016
The RNA-Binding Protein HuR Posttranscriptionally Regulates IL-2 Homeostasis and CD4+ Th2 Differentiation
Patsharaporn Techasintana1,2, Jason S Ellis1,2, Jacqueline Glascock1,2
1Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212.
Abstract:
Posttranscriptional gene regulation by RNA-binding proteins, such as HuR (elavl1), fine-tune gene expression in T cells, leading to powerful effects on immune responses. HuR can stabilize target mRNAs and/or promote translation by interacting with their 3' untranslated region adenylate and uridylate-rich elements. It was previously demonstrated that HuR facilitates Th2 cytokine expression by mRNA stabilization. However, its effects upon IL-2 homeostasis and CD4+ Th2 differentiation are not as well understood. We found that optimal translation of Il2ra (CD25) required interaction of its mRNA with HuR. Conditional HuR knockout in CD4+ T cells resulted in loss of IL-2 homeostasis and defects in JAK-STAT signaling, Th2 differentiation, and cytokine production. HuR-knockout CD4+ T cells from OVA-immunized mice also failed to proliferate in response to Ag. These results demonstrate that HuR plays a pivotal role in maintaining normal IL-2 homeostasis and initiating CD4+ Th2 differentiation.
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