A role for DHX32 in regulating T-cell apoptosis.

DHX32 is a novel putative RNA helicase with an activation-dependent pattern of expression in T-cells. To gain insight into the role of DHX32, Jurkat-DHX32 cells, a stable Jurkat T-cell line with constitutive DHX32 expression, were generated by retroviral gene transfer. There were no significant differences between control and Jurkat-DHX32 cells in terms of proliferation and response to several chemotherapeutic agents. There was an altered response of Jurkat-DHX32 cells to Fas signaling associated with down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein c-FLIP short. In normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, a correlation between DHX32 and c-FLIP short expression was detected in response to different T-cell specific and non-specific activation stimuli. Our results suggest that DHX32 might be involved in regulating T-cell response to certain apoptotic stimuli.