IFNACTION

A system view on the differential activities of human type I interferons

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Type I interferons (IFNs) form a restricted network of highly related immune cytokines that elicit differential biological responses through a single cell surface receptor comprised of the subunits IFNAR1 and IFNAR2. We have shown that differential signal activation correlates with differential interaction and conformational dynamics of the receptor induced by binding of different member of the IFN family. The goal of this project is to employ a systems biology approach to identify the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for translating receptor dynamics into differential cellular responses by combining biochemical, biophysical and genetic analysis of the signaling outputs. We will collect quantitative data describing type I interferon signaling from ligand recognition until phenomenological cellular responses in a number of well defined cell lines. Based on detailed structure functions studies, we will generate a set of IFN mutants with highly differential cellular responses. Based on this sub-family of ligands, we will explore the molecular and cellular dynamics of the signaling complex on the plasma membrane, as well as the receptor trafficking upon activation. Moreover, we will analyze the protein-protein interaction network involved in signal transduction and obtain a spatio-temporal picture of key signaling pathways. These studies will be flanked by extensive analyses of gene transcription levels and correlated with cellular responses. Using these data sets, input and output signals will be correlated on different levels by various mathematical approaches to understand how the processing of differential input signals is translated within the cell to produce different responses to binding the same surface receptors. In order to test the validity of these models, experimental and theoretical studies will be tightly coupled, for example, in designing network perturbations. As a proof-of-concept for this approach, we will design IFNs with optimized potencies for medical application, such as the ex vivo differentiation of monocytes into dendritic cell for application as cancer vaccines.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Type I interferons are proteins released by lymphocytes as a response to pathogens or tumour cells. They help cells communicate so as to trigger the immune system's protective defences.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Type I interferons (IFNs) make up a network of immune cytokines. These are small cell-signalling protein molecules that trigger various biological responses through a single cell surface receptor. These receptors are made up of the IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 subunits.

The 'A system view on the differential activities of human type I interferons' (IFNACTION) project is taking a systems biology approach in its quest to identify the cellular and molecular dynamics at play in translating receptor behaviour into cellular responses. The team is conducting studies with an approach that combines biochemical, biophysical and genetic analyses of signalling outputs.

Research shows that on binding of each different member of the IFN family, the differential signals that are activated match a different receptor interaction and conformational dynamics. IFNACTION researchers are now working to discover how this interplay unfolds on the cell plasma membrane and affects the input signals translated within the cell, which then produces a relative response.

In order to support this approach, project partners are designing and generating IFN mutants with differential cellular responses and optimised strengths for medical application. The latter is promising in its potential for the development of cancer vaccines.

IFNACTION further intends to analyse the protein-protein interaction network that is a part of signal transduction to gain a better understanding of key signalling pathways. In-depth analyses of gene transcription levels will be performed and results used to correlate with cellular responses, while experimental and theoretical studies will be coupled in order to test the validity of proposed models.