Leilani Cruz

How microRNA-27 can regulate
T cell immunity
Leilani Cruz
PhD Candidate
Immunology
UCSD
RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCH OOL

112 Broad Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
(732) 747-1774
Fax: (732) 747-1936
CEEB 311-295
School Profile
2015/2016
New Jersey
ADM INISTRATION
Reverend Philip A. Lowery
Mr. Robert Abatemarco
Mrs. Karen Falco
Mr. Mark DeVoe
Mr. Dennis Harrington
Mr. Joseph T. Montano
Mrs. Cheryl Thompson
GUIDANCE DEPARTM EN
Director
Principal
Vice Principal
Director of Student Services
Dean of Students
Athletic Director
Director of Admissions
Mr. Mark DeVoe

Mrs. Melinda Fellingham
Mrs. Patricia Hendricks
Mrs. Kelly OKeeffe-Howlett
Mr. Theodore Jarmusz
Mrs. Mary Ellin Sweeney
Mrs. Tina Schwartz
Mrs. Debora Hemschoot
Learning C
COMMUNITY and SCHOOL DATA
Red Bank Catholic High School is located in Red Bank, New Jersey, a town of middle to upper middle income, home-owning res
situated in the North Jersey shore area, 65 miles northeast of Philadelphia, and 50 miles east of Trenton. The area is noted fo
communications industries and its financial community. The future-oriented businesses are complemented by the rural and suburban
of the surrounding county.
Red Bank Catholic High School is accredited by the AdvancED Accreditation Commission. Additionally, as a parochial high sc

112 Broad Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
(732) 747-1774
Fax: (732) 747-1936
CEEB 311-295
School Profile
2015/2016
New York
Biology BS
New Jersey
ADM INISTRATION (Bachelor of Science)

Mrs. Karen Falco
Mr. Mark DeVoe
Director
Principal
Vice Principal
Dean of Students
Athletic Director
GUIDANCE DEPARTM EN
Mr. Mark DeVoe
Mrs. Tina Schwartz
Learning C

112 Broad Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
(732) 747-1774
Fax: (732) 747-1936
CEEB 311-295
School Profile
2015/2016
New York
Biology BS
New Jersey

Mrs. Karen Falco
Mr. Mark DeVoe
Director
Principal
Vice Principal
Dean of Students
Athletic Director
California
Biology PhD
(Doctor of Philosophy)
GUIDANCE
DEPARTM EN
Mr. Mark DeVoe
Mrs. Tina Schwartz
Learning C

112 Broad Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
(732) 747-1774
Fax: (732) 747-1936
CEEB 311-295
School Profile
2015/2016
New York
Biology BS
New Jersey

Mrs. Karen Falco
Mr. Mark DeVoe
Director
Principal
Vice Principal
Dean of Students
Athletic Director
California
Biology PhD
(Doctor of Philosophy)
GUIDANCE
DEPARTM EN
Mr. Mark DeVoe
Mrs. Tina Schwartz
Learning C
Industry
Academia
Clinical
Patent
LawThe area is noted fo
situated in the North Jersey shore area, 65 miles northeast of Philadelphia, and 50 miles
east of Trenton.
Consulting
University of California, San Diego

T cell immunity
Q: What is does this sentence even mean?

GOAL: Dissect each topic and understand the title of
my research

T cell immunity
Q: What is Immunity?
Immune System
Network of cells, tissues, and organs that work
together to defend the body against attacks by
foreign invaders.
Immunity
The ability of an organism to resist a
particular infection or toxin by the action
of specific antibodies or sensitized white
blood cells.
Immunology
Branch of biomedical science that covers the
study of all aspects of the immune system in all
organisms.
Immunologist
Are scientist or clinicians who specialize in the
field of immunology
No need to feed me a substitute, Im not really sick.

Be first by the bell.
Immune System
Why do we need our immune system?
Arthritis
Celiac
The defenders of the

Immune System
SOLDIERS protecting
your body
Immune System

T cell immunity
Q: What are T cells?

Immune System
Immune System
3 Types of Immune Cells

(1.) B cells
T cells
(2.) Th cells
(3.) Treg cells

Immune System
Immune System

Immune System
Immune System
B cells
B cells becomes activated

Bcells differentiate into plasma cells
Plasma cells secrete antibodies at the first line of defense
Specifically for allergies, plasma cells secrete IgE antibodies
After post-infection, B cells can become memory cells
Memory cells are cells can have memory to the already experienced antigen
interaction and can provide a stronger antibody response the next time
Antibodies are secreted
B cells
Different Types of Allergens:
Need different types of B cells
that can recognize the different
types of antigens
T cells
T cells becomes activated
T cells differentiate into Th or T helper cells which is part of the adaptive
immune system
Th cells help manage the immune response by directing other cells to
perform specialized tasks
Specifically for allergies, T cells will differentiate into Th2 cells and can
secret IL-4 and IL-5 cytokine where the cytokines act as signals to other
cell populations
Cytokines are secreted
IL-4
Th2 Cell
IL-5
Treg cells (Regulatory T cells)
Tregs
Treg cells are subpopulation of T cells

Treg cells REGULATE the activated T cells
They function to suppress or downregulate induction and proliferation
of effector T cells
Without Treg cells, leads to autoimmunity and lethal death
Diseases: Polyendocrinopathy, Enteropathy X-linked (IPEX) syndrome
Patient
Splenomegaly
Lymphadenopathy
WT Treg
WT
Treg
Treg Cell
Taking a closer look at T and Treg cell

interaction
Scenario #1: Allergy setting
Scenario #2: Autoimmunity setting
Scenario #1
What happens when a foreign peptide (allergen) is found circulating in our body?
Th2
cell
Piece of protein
peptide
T
cell
Th2
cell
IL-4
IL-5
Th2
cell
Kill the source of the protein

Recruit other specific T cells
In this scenario, because it is focusing on
allergy, T cells will become Th2 cells
Scenario #1
What happens when a foreign peptide (allergen) is found circulating in our body?
Piece of protein
peptide
Th2
cell
T
cell
Th2
cell
IL-4
IL-5
Th2
cell
To ensure Th2 does not become out of

control with signaling, and cytokine
production, Treg cells are needed to
prevent Th2 cells from becoming
hyperactivated
Tregs
Scenario #2
What happens when SELF-REACTIVE T cells attack self?
Piece of protein
peptide
T
cell
T
cell
T
cell
Self-reactive
T
cell
Treg cells are needed regulate selfreactive T cells that attack peptides from
self. The absence of Treg cells leads to
autoimmunity.
Tregs

T cell immunity
Q: What are miRNAs?
microRNAs
Abbreviated miRNA
They are small non-coding RNA molecule (containing about 22 nucleotides)
found in plants, animals, and some viruses
Non-coding means, not translated into protein
Functions in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene
expression
These sequences are evolutionary well conserved in both plant and animals
These sequences target the mRNA by using 6-8 nucleotides (the seed region)
at the 5 end of the miRNA
Watch: Video
Finnegan & Pasquinelli. MicroRNA biogenesis: regulating the regulators Crit Rev Biochem Bio. 2013
Hematopoiesis
miR-27a
Cancer cells
Cell differentiation
Immune cells
A single miRNA can target

different mRNA in
different cells but have
different consequences

T cell immunity
Q: What do I actually study then?
How microRNA-27 can regulate T cell immunity
Hematopoiesis
miR-27a
Cancer cells
Immune cells
Hematopoiesis
miR-27a
Cancer cells
Immune cells
Hematopoiesis
miR-27a
Cancer cells
Immune cells
Tregs
T cell
Hematopoiesis
miR-27a
Cancer cells
Immune cells
Tregs
T cell
Scenario #1: Allergy Setting

T cell
Piece of protein
peptide
Th2
cell
T
cell
Th2
cell
miR-27a
Through gene expression

analysis, it has been shown that
T cells contain LOW expression
of miR-27
Why: Maybe miR-27 is
important for T cell
development? Function?
Th2
cell
IL-4
IL-5

T cell
Th2
cell
Piece of protein
peptide
T
cell
Th2
cell
miR-27a

of miR-27
IL-4
IL-5

T cell
Piece of protein
peptide
Th2
cell
T
cell
Th2
cell
miR-27a

of miR-27
Th2
cell
IL-4
IL-5
Scenario #1: Allergy Setting Research Findings

T cell
Th2
cell
Piece of protein
peptide
Th2
cell
T
cell
miR-27a
Th2
cell
IL-4
IL-5
Scenario #1: Allergy Setting Research Findings

T cell
Findings
& results:
The role miR-27

in Th2 cells
Th2
cell
miR-27a
IL-4
Conclusion: Our data shows

that the expression of miR-27 is
kept low in T cells to ensure
proper Th2 cell differentiation
and function
Scenario #2: Autoimmunity Setting

Tregs
Piece of protein
peptide
T
cell
Tregs
miR-27a
T
cell
Self-reactive
T
cell
Through gene expression analysis,

it has been shown that T cells
contain HIGH expression of miR-27
Tregs
Why: Maybe miR-27 is important

for Treg cell development?
Suppressor function?
T
cell

Tregs
Piece of protein
peptide
T
cell
T
cell
Tregs
Self-reactive
miR-27a
T
cell

Tregs
T
cell

Tregs
Piece of protein
peptide
T
cell
T
cell
Tregs
Self-reactive
miR-27a
T
cell

Tregs
T
cell
Scenario #2: Autoimmunity Setting Research Findings

Tregs
Piece of protein
peptide
T
cell
T
cell
Tregs
Self-reactive
miR-27a
T
cell
Tregs
T
cell
Scenario #2: Autoimmunity Setting Research Findings

Tregs
Tregs
Findings
& results:
T
cell
Tregs
miR-27a
Conclusion: Our data shows that

the expression of miR-27 is kept
high in Treg cells to ensure proper
Treg cell development and for
correct suppressor function
The role miR27 in Treg cells
Why do we care about miRNAs in immunology?

T cell immunity
Q: Did you learn more about

immunology & miRNAs after today?
My Future Directions
Publish my Treg cell story (early 2016)
Defend my thesis project and graduate with my PhD
(Fall 2016)
Interview for Post-doc positions
Continue to advocate for women and URM in science
Never stop participating in Outreach Programs
Focus on science education in middle school, educate
the public with Outreach programming, and contribute
to a global change in education
Acknowledgements
Lu Lab
Principle Investigator: Lifan Lu
Lu Lab members
Reuben H. Fleet Science Center

Jess Mata
Patrick Henry High School
Ann Wegmann
Spotlight on San Diego Science Series
Teachers across the San Diego County
A special Thank you to all teachers

& mentors
Contact
Leilani Cruz
PhD Candidate
Biological Sciences, UCSD
Email: Locruz@UCSD.edu
Questions?

Leilani Cruz

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How microRNA-27 can regulate

RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCH OOL

Mr. Mark DeVoe

COMMUNITY and SCHOOL DATA

RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCH OOL

ADM INISTRATION (Bachelor of Science)

COMMUNITY and SCHOOL DATA

RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCH OOL

ADM INISTRATION (Bachelor of Science)

COMMUNITY and SCHOOL DATA

RED BANK CATHOLIC HIGH SCH OOL

ADM INISTRATION (Bachelor of Science)

University of California, San Diego

How microRNA-27 can regulate

Q: What is does this sentence even mean?

How microRNA-27 can regulate

No need to feed me a substitute, Im not really sick.

Why do we need our immune system?

The defenders of the

How microRNA-27 can regulate

Q: What are T cells?

The defenders of the

3 Types of Immune Cells

The defenders of the

The defenders of the

B cells becomes activated

Antibodies are secreted

Treg cells (Regulatory T cells)

Treg cells are subpopulation of T cells

Taking a closer look at T and Treg cell

Kill the source of the protein

To ensure Th2 does not become out of

How microRNA-27 can regulate

Q: What are miRNAs?

A single miRNA can target

How microRNA-27 can regulate

Q: What do I actually study then?

How microRNA-27 can regulate T cell immunity

How microRNA-27 can regulate T cell immunity

How microRNA-27 can regulate T cell immunity

How microRNA-27 can regulate T cell immunity

Scenario #1: Allergy Setting

Through gene expression

Scenario #1: Allergy Setting

Through gene expression

Scenario #1: Allergy Setting

Through gene expression

Scenario #1: Allergy Setting Research Findings

Scenario #1: Allergy Setting Research Findings

The role miR-27

Conclusion: Our data shows

Scenario #2: Autoimmunity Setting

Through gene expression analysis,

Why: Maybe miR-27 is important

Scenario #2: Autoimmunity Setting

Through gene expression analysis,

Scenario #2: Autoimmunity Setting

Through gene expression analysis,

Scenario #2: Autoimmunity Setting Research Findings

Scenario #2: Autoimmunity Setting Research Findings

Conclusion: Our data shows that

The role miR27 in Treg cells