Identification of the major capacitative calcium channel in antigen presenting cells and uses thereof

摘要

The present invention relates to the identification of the major capacitative calcium channel of cells of the immune system, and its use to modulate the activity of immune cells in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo. This invention more specifically discloses that TrpC8, a Mlsnl gene product, represents the major capacitative calcium channel of macrophage cells. This invention more particularly resides in the use of a Mlsnl gene, gene product or transcription promoter for the screening of a compound that modulates the activity of an antigen presenting cell, as well as in the use of a Mlsnl gene, gene product or transcription promoter to identify new (known or unknown) targets for immune response modulation.