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Role of micro RNA s and long‐non‐coding RNA s in CD 4 + T‐cell differentiation
Author(s) -
Pagani Massimiliano,
Rossetti Grazisa,
Panzeri Ilaria,
Candia Paola,
Bonnal Raoul J. P.,
Rossi Riccardo L.,
Geginat Jens,
Abrignani Sergio
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
immunological reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.839
H-Index - 223
eISSN - 1600-065X
pISSN - 0105-2896
DOI - 10.1111/imr.12055
Subject(s) - effector , biology , rna , cellular differentiation , t cell , transcription factor , acquired immune system , microbiology and biotechnology , non coding rna , immune system , immunology , genetics , gene
Summary CD 4 + T lymphocytes orchestrate adaptive immune responses by differentiating into various subsets of effector T cells such as T‐helper 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cells. These subsets have been generally described by master transcription factors that dictate the expression of cytokines and receptors, which ultimately define lymphocyte effector functions. However, the view of T‐lymphocyte subsets as stable and terminally differentiated lineages has been challenged by increasing evidence of functional plasticity within CD 4 + T‐cell subsets, which implies flexible programming of effector functions depending on time and space of T‐cell activation. An outstanding question with broad basic and traslational implications relates to the mechanisms, besides transcriptional regulation, which define the plasticity of effector functions. In this study, we discuss the emerging role of regulatory non‐coding RNA s in T‐cell differentiation and plasticity. Not only micro RNA s have been proven to be important for CD 4 + T‐cell differentiation, but it is also likely that the overall T‐cell functioning is the result of a multilayered network composed by coding RNA s as well as by short and long non‐coding RNA s. The integrated study of all the nodes of this network will provide a comprehensive view of the molecular mechanisms underlying T‐cell functions in health and disease.