Role of Akt1 signaling on the biology of dendritic cells in host-microbe interactions

Abstract

Periodontal disease involves both the adaptive immune response and osteoclastogenesis. Dendritic cells may play a central role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease by orchestrating the adaptive immune response and acting as osteoclast precursors. Akt signaling has an important role in processes such as metabolism, prolieration, apoptosis and immune response. Evidence indicates that Akt1 may function as an endogenous negative regulator of inflammation; however it may also enhance bone formation and inhibit osteoclastogenesis. Considering that dendritic cells are central to the immune response and are also osteoclast precursors, we propose to assess, in vitro, the role of Akt1 activation on the biology of dendritic cells. The primary hypothesis of this proposal is that Akt1 signaling has a fundamental role for the biology of dendritic cells. Specifically, we will investigate the influence of Akt1 signaling in dendritic cells, assessing its relevance on proliferation, apoptosis, maturation/activation and phagocytic activity. This proposal is derived from a larger research proposal funded by FAPESP in the form of a Doctoral/PhD stipend (FAPESP #2015/10100-8) and aims to foster the interaction between Graduate and Undergraduate students, offering scientific and technical training to the Undergraduate students with additional benefits of didactic experience to the PhD student (who will be responsible for part of the training and mentoring the Undergraduate student) and of additional hands to execute the proposed experiments. (AU)