Effect of deletion of SPTLC1 on gene expression and differentiation of mouse Th17 cells in vitro

Th17 cells are implicated in autoimmune diseases and several metabolic processes are shown to be important for their development and function. However, the role of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis in their differentiation and function is less known. To investigate the role of SPTLC1(major subunit of serine palmitoyl transferase enzyme (SPT) that catalyzes the first and rate limiting step of de novo sphingolipid synthesis) in mouse Th17 cell differentiation, we have activated the WT and SPTLC1 defecient (KO) naïve CD4+ T cells, isolated from mouse spleen and lymph nodes, in Th17 differentiating condition in the precence and absence of NAC ( N-acetyl cysteine) and 3-KDS (3-ketodihydrosphingosine).