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The enigma of CD4‐lineage specification
Author(s) -
Xiong Yumei,
Bosselut Rémy
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.201041098
Subject(s) - biology , transcription factor , microbiology and biotechnology , gata3 , lineage (genetic) , major histocompatibility complex , t cell , mhc class i , immune system , gene , genetics
Abstract CD4 + T cells are essential for defenses against pathogens and affect the functions of most cells involved in the immune response. Although CD4 + T cells generally recognize peptide antigens bound to MHC‐II molecules, important subsets are restricted by other MHC or MHC‐like molecules, including CD1d‐restricted “invariant” iNK T cells. This review discusses recently identified nodes in the transcriptional circuits that are involved in controlling CD4 + T‐cell differentiation, notably the commitment factor Thpok and its interplay with Runx transcriptional regulators, and focuses on how transcription factors acting upstream of Thpok, including Gata3, Tox and E‐box proteins, promote the emergence of CD4‐lineage‐specific gene expression patterns.