Jean Pieters | |
---|---|
Nationality | Dutch |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Biochemistry |
Institutions | University of Leuven, Maastricht University , European Molecular Biology Laboratory , Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam, Basel Institute for Immunology, Biozentrum University of Basel |
Jean Pieters is a Dutch biochemist and Professor at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, Switzerland.
Jean Pieters studied biochemistry and microbiology at the University of Leuven in Belgium. After completing his doctorate at Maastricht University, the Netherlands, he joined the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg in 1989 as a postdoctoral fellow in Bernhard Dobberstein’s laboratory. From 1992 until 1995 Jean Pieters researched at the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam as a junior group leader. In 1996 he was recruited to the Basel Institute for Immunology and in 2002 appointed to the Biozentrum at the University of Basel. [1]
Jean Pieters investigates the role of coronin proteins in activating cellular signal transduction processes. Coronin proteins are widely distributed in the eukaryotic kingdom and conserved from yeast to man. One of the most conserved members of this protein family, mammalian coronin 1, was originally discovered in his laboratory as a host factor responsible for the intracellular survival of pathogenic mycobacteria. [2] Subsequent work from his laboratory showed that coronin proteins regulate diverse physiologic processes including T cell homeostasis, [3] learning and memory [4] and development. [5] More recently, his laboratory showed that coronin 1 signaling plays a crucial role in auto- and alloimmunity [6] [7] [8] and that coronin-mediated signaling underlies the longevity of T cells. [9] Research in his laboratory currently focusses on the role for coronin proteins in the establishment and regulation of cell populations.
Tumor necrosis factor is an adipokine and a cytokine. TNF is a member of the TNF superfamily, which consists of various transmembrane proteins with a homologous TNF domain.
Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) are small molecular motifs conserved within a class of microbes, but not present in the host. They are recognized by toll-like receptors (TLRs) and other pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in both plants and animals. This allows the innate immune system to recognize pathogens and thus, protect the host from infection.
Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play a crucial role in the proper function of the innate immune system. PRRs are germline-encoded host sensors, which detect molecules typical for the pathogens. They are proteins expressed mainly by cells of the innate immune system, such as dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils, as well as by epithelial cells, to identify two classes of molecules: pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which are associated with microbial pathogens, and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which are associated with components of host's cells that are released during cell damage or death. They are also called primitive pattern recognition receptors because they evolved before other parts of the immune system, particularly before adaptive immunity. PRRs also mediate the initiation of antigen-specific adaptive immune response and release of inflammatory cytokines.
Fas ligand is a type-II transmembrane protein expressed on cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells. Its binding with Fas receptor (FasR) induces programmed cell death in the FasR-carrying target cell. Fas ligand/receptor interactions play an important role in the regulation of the immune system and the progression of cancer.
Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks), also called phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases, are a family of enzymes involved in cellular functions such as cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, motility, survival and intracellular trafficking, which in turn are involved in cancer.
Interleukin-22 (IL-22) is protein that in humans is encoded by the IL22 gene.
Glycoprotein 130 is a transmembrane protein which is the founding member of the class of tall cytokine receptors. It forms one subunit of the type I cytokine receptor within the IL-6 receptor family. It is often referred to as the common gp130 subunit, and is important for signal transduction following cytokine engagement. As with other type I cytokine receptors, gp130 possesses a WSXWS amino acid motif that ensures correct protein folding and ligand binding. It interacts with Janus kinases to elicit an intracellular signal following receptor interaction with its ligand. Structurally, gp130 is composed of five fibronectin type-III domains and one immunoglobulin-like C2-type (immunoglobulin-like) domain in its extracellular portion.
Chemokine ligand 19 (CCL19) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CCL19 gene.
Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), also known as tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 1A (TNFRSF1A) and CD120a, is a ubiquitous membrane receptor that binds tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα).
C-C chemokine receptor type 10 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CCR10 gene.
Signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) is a regulatory membrane glycoprotein from SIRP family expressed mainly by myeloid cells and also by stem cells or neurons.
Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor 3DL1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KIR3DL1 gene.
Semaphorin-4D (SEMA4D) also known as Cluster of Differentiation 100 (CD100), is a protein of the semaphorin family that in humans is encoded by the SEMA4D gene.
Coronin-1A is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CORO1A gene. It has been implicated in both T-cell mediated immunity and mitochondrial apoptosis. In a recent genome-wide longevity study, its expression levels were found to be negatively associated both with age at the time of blood sample and the survival time after blood draw.
Interleukin 20 receptor, alpha subunit, is a subunit of the interleukin-20 receptor, the interleukin-26 receptor, and the interleukin-24 receptor. The interleukin 20 receptor, alpha subunit is also referred to as IL20R1 or IL20RA. The IL20RA receptor is involved in both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses, signaling through the JAK-STAT pathway.
Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IFITM1 gene. IFITM1 has also recently been designated CD225. This protein has several additional names: fragilis, IFI17 [interferon-induced protein 17], 9-27 [Interferon-inducible protein 9-27] and Leu13.
Hematopoietic cell signal transducer is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HCST gene.
Cell surface receptors are receptors that are embedded in the plasma membrane of cells. They act in cell signaling by receiving extracellular molecules. They are specialized integral membrane proteins that allow communication between the cell and the extracellular space. The extracellular molecules may be hormones, neurotransmitters, cytokines, growth factors, cell adhesion molecules, or nutrients; they react with the receptor to induce changes in the metabolism and activity of a cell. In the process of signal transduction, ligand binding affects a cascading chemical change through the cell membrane.
The NSG mouse is a brand of immunodeficient laboratory mice, developed and marketed by Jackson Laboratory, which carries the strain NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ. NSG branded mice are among the most immunodeficient described to date. NSG branded mice lack mature T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. NSG branded mice are also deficient in multiple cytokine signaling pathways, and they have many defects in innate immunity. The compound immunodeficiencies in NSG branded mice permit the engraftment of a wide range of primary human cells, and enable sophisticated modeling of many areas of human biology and disease. NSG branded mice were developed in the laboratory of Dr. Leonard Shultz at Jackson Laboratory, which owns the NSG trade mark.
Stimulator of interferon genes (STING), also known as transmembrane protein 173 (TMEM173) and MPYS/MITA/ERIS is a protein that in humans is encoded by the STING1 gene.