Abstract

Our main goal is to understand how immune cells make important decisions relative to proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis. These events are the basis for lasting immunological protection which underpins effective vaccination. Understanding these processes is also not only fundamental for public health but also for treating autoimmunity and cancer.

The emergence of miRNAs as regulators of gene expression and their potential role as tumour suppressors or oncogenes is likely to have an impact on gene therapies designed to block tumour progression. Understanding how the expression of miRNAs is regulated, which cellular function they influence and the identification of their molecular targets under normal conditions is therefore essential to identify their role in cancer. We address these questions by using an integrative approach combining cellular biology, biochemical and bioinformatics methodologies to provide mechanistic insights on miRNA function in the immune system.