Publications by authors named "Panagiota Vardaka"

Natural killer (NK) cells are critical to immune surveillance against infections and cancer. Their role in immune surveillance requires that NK cells are present within tissues in a quiescent state. Mechanisms by which NK cells remain quiescent in tissues are incompletely elucidated.

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Background: Τhe study aims to identify factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and to investigate knowledge and perceptions of Primary Health Care Centers (PHCC) personnel, who acted as pioneers in the national COVID-19 vaccination strategy. Methods and Materials: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted by distributing an online anonymous questionnaire comprising 25 questions during the first semester of 2021. Results: Approximately 85.

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Thymocyte differentiation and lineage commitment is regulated by an extensive network of transcription factors and signaling molecules among which Erk plays a central role. However, Erk effectors as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying this network are not well understood. Erf is a ubiquitously expressed transcriptional repressor regulated by Erk-dependent phosphorylation.

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Whereas effector CD4 and CD8 T cells promote immune activation and can drive clearance of infections and cancer, CD4 regulatory T (T) cells suppress their function, contributing to both immune homeostasis and cancer immunosuppression. The transcription factor BACH2 functions as a pervasive regulator of T cell differentiation, promoting development of CD4 T cells and suppressing the effector functions of multiple effector T cell (T) lineages. Here, we report the development of a stable cell-based bioluminescence assay of the transcription factor activity of BACH2.

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Regulatory T (Treg) cell populations are composed of functionally quiescent resting Treg (rTreg) cells which differentiate into activated Treg (aTreg) cells upon antigen stimulation. How rTreg cells remain quiescent despite chronic exposure to cognate self- and foreign antigens is unclear. The transcription factor BACH2 is critical for early Treg lineage specification, but its function following lineage commitment is unresolved.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how genetic variations linked to autoimmune and allergic diseases are often found in regulatory regions called enhancers, many of which are not well understood.
  • Researchers used mouse models to analyze a specific enhancer at chromosome 11q13.5 that is functional in certain immune cells (CD4 T cells) and found it plays a crucial role in controlling colitis, a type of inflammatory bowel disease.
  • The findings suggest that the enhancer interacts with gene promoters to regulate the expression of a protein called GARP, providing insights into the genetic basis of immune diseases and highlighting GARP as a potential treatment target.
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