# The Role of Cytoplasmic and Nuclear THEMIS in Immature and Mature T cells

> **NIH NIH R01** · LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY · 2024 · $688,446

## Abstract

Abstract
THEMIS associates with a growing number of inflammatory diseases in humans, including Celiac Disease,
Multiple Sclerosis and Atopic Dermatitis. THEMIS associated disorders affect different anatomical sites and
follow different pathogeneses, placing THEMIS as one of the core “inflammatory”-controllers. Despite the strong
association of THEMIS with multiple inflammatory diseases in humans and the profound defects in T cell
development and selection in THEMIS-deficient mice, the function of THEMIS and the pathways or factors it
interacts with remain enigmatic. THEMIS1 is expressed in T cells where it functions as a key adaptor downstream
of the TCR. In thymocytes it is essential for positive selection leading to the generation of naïve T cells. THEMIS
continues to be expressed in mature CD8ab and CD4 TCRab T cells but its role in mature T cells is not known.
Moreover, THEMIS is expressed in the nucleus as well as in the cytoplasm and although THEMIS, as a TCR
adaptor, has been well studied, it’s role in the nucleus remains undefined and nothing is known about the
significance of this differential subcellular localization for its function in thymocytes or mature T cells. These
significant gaps in our understanding of the biology of THEMIS greatly impede on the progress to identify the
role of THEMIS in those diseases it is associated with or to design effective strategies to target THEMIS for the
treatment of inflammatory diseases or to enhance protection against infections and cancers. The proposal here
sets out to address these significant gaps with the use of unique new tools to examine THEMIS in the cytoplasm
and nucleus of immature and mature T cells.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10764808
- **Project number:** 5R01AI143934-05
- **Recipient organization:** LA JOLLA INSTITUTE FOR IMMUNOLOGY
- **Principal Investigator:** HILDE MC CHEROUTRE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $688,446
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-02-14 → 2025-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10764808

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10764808, The Role of Cytoplasmic and Nuclear THEMIS in Immature and Mature T cells (5R01AI143934-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10764808. Licensed CC0.

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