Project information
The role of vimentin inb the monocyte/macrophage differentiation pathway

Investor logo
Project Identification
GP301/03/D022
Project Period
1/2003 - 12/2006
Investor / Pogramme / Project type
Czech Science Foundation
MU Faculty or unit
Faculty of Science
Keywords
vimentin, differentiation, v-myb, macrophage, leukemia

Significant changes in cellular morphology and physiology are connected with differentiation of hematopoietic cells. Namely, changes in amount, structure and localization of cytoskeletal protein vimentin have been described during this process. Fully developed filamentous network of vimentin was found in mature monocytes/macrophages. Besides its intracellular structural role, vimentin is also secreted to extracellular space where it participates in activation of phagocytic function of macrophages. The aim of this project is to explore the role of vimentin in the terminal differentiation of monocyte/macrophage cell lineage using v-myb transformed monoblastic cell line (BM2) as a model. We intend to address following specific aims: (1) to perform exact characterization of amount, structure and localization of vimentin during differentiation of BM2 cells induced by phorbol ester, trichostatin A and retinoic acid, (2) to perform analysis whether changes in expression of vimentin are essential for morphological and functional differentiation of monocyte/macrophage cell lineage, (3) to determine the role of vimentin phosphorylation during differentiation of BM2 cells, (4) to analyze the regulation of vimentin expression during differentiation of BM2 cells and identify the factors that participate in this process. We expect that the results of this project will help to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the cellular processes that are responsible for failure of differentiation of leukemic cells and suggest the ways of its improvement.

Publications

Total number of publications: 10


You are running an old browser version. We recommend updating your browser to its latest version.