Methods and compositions for regulating T cell subsets by modulating transcription factor activity

A method for identifying a compound that modulates the activity of a maf family protein, comprising:

• a) providing an indicator cell comprising:
• i) a recombinant expression vector encoding a maf family protein, said maf family protein being selected from the group consisting of c-Maf, v-maf, mafB, Nrl, mafK, mafF, mafG and p18;
• and
• ii) a vector comprising regulatory sequences of a Th2-associated cytokine gene operatively linked to a reporter gene;
• b) contacting the indicator cell with a test compound;
• c) determining the level of expression of the reporter gene in the indicator cell in the presence of the test compound;
• and
• d) comparing the level of expression of the reporter gene in the indicator cell in the presence of the test compound with the level of expression of the reporter gene in the indicator cell in the absence of the test compound to thereby identify a compound that modulates the activity of said maf family protein.

A method for identifying a protein from Th2 cells that interacts with a maf family protein, comprising:

• a) providing an indicator cell, which indicator cell comprises:
• i) a reporter gene operably linked to a transcriptional regulatory sequence;
• ii) a first chimeric gene which encodes a first fusion protein, said first fusion protein comprising a maf family protein fused to a DNA binding domain or a transcriptional activation domain, wherein said maf family protein is selected from the grouip consisting of c-Maf, v-maf, mafB, Nrl, mafK, mafF, mafG and p18;
• and
• iii) a second chimeric gene, which encodes a second fusion protein, the second fusion protein comprising a polypeptide encoded by mRNA from a Th2 cell fused to a DNA binding domain or a transcriptional activation domain;
• wherein the first fusion protein comprises a DNA binding domain or transcriptional activation domain when the second fusion protein comprises a transcriptional activation domain or DNA binding domain, respectively and;
• wherein expression of the reporter gene is sensitive to interactions between the first fusion protein, the second fusion protein and the transcriptional regulatory sequence;
• and
• b) determining the effect of the second fusion protein on maf family protein activity in the indicator cell by determining the level of expression of the reporter gene in the indicator cell to thereby identify a protein from Th2 cells that interacts with said maf family protein.