Newly discovered lincRNA controls the development and function of regulatory T cells

T lymphocytes in our blood fight cancer, viruses and bacteria. Specific regulatory T cells are required to control abnormal immune responses, and disruption of their function may lead to autoimmune diseases or cancer.

Scientists at Turku Bioscience Center have now discovered a novel RNA that controls the development and function of regulatory T cells. This long intergenic non-coding RNA (lincRNA) modulates the levels of the transcription factor FOXP3 and the suppressive function of human regulatory T cells by controlling the interleukin-2 receptor. The discovery potentially enables the development of new therapeutic approaches to control the human immune response.

Our discovery provides the basis for developing precision medicine methods in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. Regulatory T cells are already being studied in patients for the treatment of type 1 diabetes, and our new lincRNA molecule could, for example, be used to increase the production of these cells for therapeutic purposes.”

Professor Riitta Lahesmaa, University of Turku, Finland

The discovery is particularly interesting because cancer cells are able to hide from the immune system by specifically manipulating regulatory T cells. Recently introduced therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for cancer, which are immune activators, attempt to break this concealment process. Lahesmaa suggests that targeting the new lincRNA molecule could enable immune activation in cancer without the use of expensive antibodies.

LincRNA expression is highly tissue and cell specific, therefore targeting these molecules will enable precision therapy against desired targets.

The research was funded by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation, the Finnish Research Council and the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation. The research article was published in the respected journal PNAS.