Tularik other research news

Tularik and colleagues published the finding that Stat4 controls the cytokine interleukin-12, a signaling molecule which directs the proliferation and differentiation of lymphocytes. Blocking expression of the gene impaired the development of T1 helper cells, while promoting increased differentiation of T2 helper cells.

Eliminating the Stat4 protein blocked the IL-12 signal without impairing other physiologic processes, the researchers reported in Nature. A knockout mouse model was used to show that the Stat4 gene was required to activate the IL-12 signal cascade. ...