Publications by authors named "Alexandra Mertes"
Maintenance of myeloid progenitor cells is controlled by complex regulatory mechanisms and is orchestrated by multiple different transcription factors. Here, we report that the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) by calcium-sensing protein calcineurin inhibits the proliferation of myeloid granulocyte-monocyte progenitors (GMPs). Myeloid progenitor subtypes exhibit variable sensitivity to induced Ca(2+) entry and consequently display differential engagement of the calcineurin-NFAT pathway.
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- The calcineurin/NFAT signaling pathway, known for its role in T-cell functions, is also important in innate immunity and myeloid cell homeostasis.
- Myeloid cells like granulocytes and dendritic cells help regulate inflammation and defend against pathogens, with their activation influenced by microbial receptors that trigger calcineurin/NFAT signaling.
- Immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine A and FK506, used in organ transplants, not only inhibit T-cell activities but also affect innate immune responses, suggesting a more complex role of these drugs than previously understood.