The molecular basis to the development and function of the thymic microenvironment.

Funded Activity Summary

The ability of the body to defend itself against infection is dependent on white cells in the blood called T lymphocytes, so-named because they are produced in the thymus gland. In the absence of these T cells, there is severe immunodeficiency. On other hand if the T cells are hyperactive, they can confuse their role and destroy normal tissues (autoimmunity). Imbalances in the types of T cells can also predispose patients to allergies and failures in responses to tumours. This project seeks to identify the genes required to create T cells in the thymus. Specifically it addresses the structural cells of the thymus which provide the unique environment for converting bone marrow precursors exclusively into T lymphocytes. Understanding the genetic and thus molecular basis to this will be very important biologically but may also provide more sophisticated stratgies for treating diseases on T cell origin.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2001

End Date: 01-01-2003

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $227,036.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Clinical chemistry (incl. diagnostics)

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

autoimmunity | epithelium | genes | immunodeficiency | microenvironment | molecules | thymus | transplantation tolerance

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