Events Calendar

Graduate Seminar

Speaker: Dr. Yvonne Chen, California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA

Talk Title: Genetic Control of T-Cell Proliferation with Synthetic RNA Regulatory Systems

Series: Graduate Seminar

Abstract: Adoptive T-cell therapy seeks to harness the precision and efficacy of the immune system against diseases that escape the body’s natural surveillance. Clinical trials have demonstrated the use of cytolytic T cells (CTLs) genetically engineered to express disease-specific antigen receptors as a promising treatment option for opportunistic diseases, virus-associated malignancies, and cancers. However, the safety and efficacy of T-cell therapies depend, in part, on the ability to regulate the fate and function of CTLs with stringency and flexibility. The emerging field of synthetic biology provides powerful conceptual and technological tools for the construction of regulatory systems that can interface with and reprogram complex biological processes such as cell growth. Here, we present the development of synthetic RNA-based regulatory systems and their applications in advancing cellular therapies. Rationally designed, drug-responsive ribozyme switches are linked to the proliferative cytokines IL-2 and IL-15 to construct cis-acting regulatory systems capable of T-cell proliferation control in both mouse and primary human T cells. We further demonstrate the ability of our synthetic controllers to effectively modulate T-cell growth rates in response to drug input in animal models. In addition, we report the development of rationally designed, miRNA-based regulatory devices capable of drug-responsive control over the expression of endogenous cytokine receptor chains. The RNA-based regulatory systems exhibit unique properties critical for translation to therapeutic applications, including adaptability to diverse ligand inputs and regulatory targets, tunable regulatory stringency, and rapid response to input availability. By providing tight gene expression control with customizable ligand inputs, RNA-based regulatory systems can greatly improve cellular therapies and advance broad applications in health and medicine.

More Info: http://chems.usc.edu/academics/10-11/g-04-22-11.htm

Location: Hedco Pertroleum and Chemical Engineering Building (HED) - 116

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Petra Pearce

Event Link: http://chems.usc.edu/academics/10-11/g-04-22-11.htm