2019-08-222019-08-222014-032014-01-29https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/27090Research Appreciation Day Award Winner - 2014 Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Awards, Department of Cell Biology - 1st Place Poster AwardResearch Appreciation Day Award Winner - 2014 Graduate Student Association Awards - 3rd Place PosterCD44 is a cell surface glycoprotein that serves as the major receptor for hyaluronan, aiding in trafficking and adhesion of immune cells. CD44 also serves as a recruitment platform for signaling molecules and has been shown to regulate proliferation. We have shown that CD44 expression in Jurkat T cells causes a decrease in proliferation. In our current study, we have observed that CD44 expression greatly increases the influx of calcium from extracellular sources. Calcium influx is necessary for the proliferation of T cells, but CD44 expressing Jurkat cells show a disrupted calcium homeostasis. Through use of calcium channel inhibitors we have shown that Jurkat T cells rely on calcium release activated calcium channels for influx. We have observed that CD44 induced excess calcium influx negatively regulates early growth response protein 1 expression, which is responsible for the decrease in proliferation. Our findings show for the first time that CD44 can influence the calcium signaling of leukemic T cells, impacting their proliferation and potentially making a less aggressive cancer cell. Purpose (a): CD44 is a cell surface glycoprotein that serves as the major receptor for hyaluronan, aiding in trafficking and adhesion of immune cells. CD44 also serves as a recruitment platform for signaling molecules and has been shown to regulate proliferation. We have shown that CD44 expression in Jurkat T cells causes a decrease in proliferation. Methods (b): In our current study, we have observed that CD44 expression greatly increases the influx of calcium from extracellular sources. Calcium influx is necessary for the proliferation of T cells, but CD44 expressing Jurkat cells show a disrupted calcium homeostasis. Through use of calcium channel inhibitors we have shown that Jurkat T cells rely on calcium release activated calcium channels for influx. Results (c): We have observed that CD44 induced excess calcium influx negatively regulates early growth response protein 1 expression, which is responsible for the decrease in proliferation. Conclusions (d): Our findings show for the first time that CD44 can influence the calcium signaling of leukemic T cells, impacting their proliferation and potentially making a less aggressive cancer cell.enleukemiaCD44calcium influxposter