Post-transcriptional regulation of immune system by RNA helicase UPF1

The aim of this research is to uncover the roles of RNA helicase UPF1 in immune system. Inflammation is mediated by proinflammatory cytokines and cytokine expression is tightly regulated in innate immune cells such as macrophages and dendritic cells controlling their activation and maturation. Cytokine mRNA expression is controlled at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, and post-transcriptional damping of cytokine expression is a critical step for resolution of inflammation and prevention of unintended tissue damage. However, the mechanisms of RNA metabolism in immune system is not clear. Thus, the aim of this research project is to investigate the molecular mechanisms of RNA metabolism by UPF1 in immune system.

本研究旨在揭示RNA解旋酶（RNA helicase）UPF1在免疫系统中的功能作用。炎症由促炎细胞因子（proinflammatory cytokines）介导，而在巨噬细胞（macrophages）、树突状细胞（dendritic cells）等先天免疫细胞（innate immune cells）中，细胞因子的表达受到严格调控，以控制这些细胞的活化与成熟过程。细胞因子的mRNA表达在转录水平与转录后水平均受到调控，而对细胞因子表达的转录后抑制是缓解炎症、避免意外组织损伤的关键环节。然而，免疫系统中RNA代谢的具体分子机制尚未明确。因此，本研究项目旨在探究UPF1调控免疫系统中RNA代谢的分子机制。