# The transcription factor c-MYC in lymphocyte expansion and restriction of stemness

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $565,821

## Abstract

Abstract
 Lymphocytes are capable of robust expansion upon antigen receptor stimulation and are one of the
most rapidly dividing cells postnatally. Their proliferation capacity is critical for establishing broad antigen
receptor repertoires during development and also for rapidly amplifying antigen-specific immunity upon
pathogen invasion. In addition, T cells can also be expanded ex vivo for experiments or adoptive cell therapies
and the generation of CAR-T cells, which have been translated into anti-cancer therapies. While such robust
expansion of T cells generates many effector cells, they are short-lived and unsustainable for efficacious
control of infection and cancers. The goal of the proposed study is to dissect the mechanisms by which robust
proliferation is coupled to such differentiation at the molecular level. We will elucidate the gene regulatory
network initiated by the transcription factor c-MYC, which is oncogenic but also critical for rapid proliferation of
lymphocytes at many checkpoints, in developing lymphocytes and mature lymphocytes, and define key MYC
downstream genes specifically associated with the differentiation processes. Insights from these studies and
selective inhibition of the differentiation processes will disclose unappreciated tumor suppressor programs and
facilitate expansion of antigen-specific lymphocytes with memory/stem-like properties for long-lasting
protection against infection and cancers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10899608
- **Project number:** 5R01AI130152-07
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Takeshi Egawa
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $565,821
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-25 → 2028-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10899608

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10899608, The transcription factor c-MYC in lymphocyte expansion and restriction of stemness (5R01AI130152-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10899608. Licensed CC0.

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