Role of the WNK1 pathway and osmoregulation in T cell migration and activation

The immune system of mammals is critical for protection from infections caused by bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. An essential part of the immune system is a white blood cell termed a T cell. T cells move around the body, travelling between different tissues via the blood system, searching for signs of infection. If they find such infections, they stop, become activated, divide rapidly and turn into specialised cells that actively fight the infection. Some T cells become killers, destroying infected cells, others become helpers that actively support the production of antibodies that are essential to clear infections. Thus, the migration and activation of T cells is a vital part of the immune response to infectious disease. We have discovered an enzyme in T cells called WNK1 which is essential for the migration and activation of T cells. Surprisingly, we have found that WNK1 controls the movement of water into the cells, which is important for the migration and activation of the T cells. We will now study how WNK1 controls this water movement and why water movement is required for T cells to migrate and become activated. We will do this by analysing the biochemical processes inside the T cells that are controlled by WNK1. Furthermore, we will discover how WNK1 contributes to immune responses, especially to infections by respiratory viruses such as influenza.