T Cell Trafficking Genes Identification Using the Sleeping Beauty Transposon

Researchershave applied the Sleeping Beauty (SB)transposon system to identify novel candidate genes involved in T-celltrafficking. The SB transposon can identify the genetic drivers that couldincrease the trafficking of T-cells out of the blood and into the tumor.Advantages for using the SB transposon are that it results in mutagenesis ofthe entire genome, but only in T-cells. This can be followed by easy identification of insertion sites in genesthat may be associated with infiltration of T-cells into the tumor, and so maycontribute to the anti-tumor T-cell response. Studies to date demonstrate thatT-cell specific SB mutagenesis can be used to identify candidate genes that maycontribute to the anti-tumor T-cell response. A number of these candidate genes are currently being validated. Genesidentified by the SB transposon have the potential to serve as therapeutictargets to enhance the efficacy of checkpoint blockade therapy for patientswith a broad range of cancers. This technology will have a therapeutic anddiagnostic application in the fields of immunology, oncology and cancerresearch.

USA