Biography
Biography: Ivan Martinez Duncker
Abstract
T cells are probably one of the more dynamic models of cell glycosylation, particularly T CD4+ cells (Th). After activation and stimulation with specific cytokines, Th cells can differentiate into different subsets that include Th1, Th2, Th9, Th17 and T regulators (Treg), each one with different cytokine secretion profiles and effector functions. In the last few years it has been recognized that the presence and type of linkage in surface glycans of the negatively charged monosaccharide Sia, is different between this subsets and is involved in their distinct susceptibility to Galectin 1 mediated apoptosis. In this work we report the dynamics of sialylation during anti-CD3/anti-CD28 mediated activation of human CD4+ T helper lymphocytes (Th), including sialyltransferase gene expression changes and metabolic flux of sialic acid. The identification of novel sialoproteins and sialolipids through this approach sheds light into novel functions of sialic acids during Th activation.