Sanquin-scientists discover new mechanism regulating immune responses

 “This discovery adds a new control point for immune regulation,” says lead author Monika Wolkers. It could pave the way for therapies that boost T cell responses in cancer or reduce harmful overactivity in autoimmune diseases. 

Published in Molecular Cell, the study shows that mTOR, a key signaling hub, promotes cytokine production through the 3′ untranslated regions (3′ UTRs) of cytokine mRNAs. This process depends on DDX21, an RNA-binding protein that attaches to AU-rich elements when mTOR is active, accelerating translation of cytokines such as IL-2, TNF, and IFN-γ.