Document Type
Patent
Publication Date
September 2013
Patent Number
8541386
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) is expressed in B lymphocytes and is involved in immune regulation. Mouse splenic B cells express three CB2 transcripts utilizing two different first exons. Human peripheral blood B cells express one CB2 transcript utilizing one first exon. Alignment of sequenced RACE products to either the mouse or human genome reveals that isolated transcripts contain previously unidentified transcriptional start sites (TSS). B cells from mouse and human preferentially express one transcript, exon 1a in mouse and exon 1 in human. Multiple CB2 TSSs are utilized in mouse splenic B cells and one TSS in human peripheral blood B cells. The defining of the receptor gene TSSs in these cells provides materials and methods for therapeutically regulating immune function, including antibody isotype switching, using compounds such as inhibitory nucleic acids that down-regulate expression of the B cell CB2 gene (e.g., RNAi molecules).
Application Number
12/859,744
Recommended Citation
Klein, Thomas W.; Sherwood, Tracy; Nong, Liang; and Newton, Cathy, "Cannabinoid 2 (CB2) receptor gene promoter and unique RNA transcripts in B cells and methods of use" (2013). USF Patents. 243.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/usf_patents/243
Assignees
University of South Florida
Filing Date
08/19/2010
Primary/U.S. Class
514/44A