title: GATA-3 deficiency abrogates the development and maintenance of T helper type 2 cells.
abstract: T helper type 2 (Th2) cells secrete IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13 and mediate allergic and asthmatic disease. GATA-3 is a Th2-specific transcription factor that appears in overexpression studies and transgenic systems to function as a Th2 lineage determinant. Because GATA-3 is also crucial for development of the T lineage and throughout thymic development, direct demonstration that GATA-3 is required for Th2 development by targeted deletion has been lacking. Using a conditional knockout approach, we found that GATA-3 is required for optimal Th2 cytokine production in vitro and in vivo. Our data also show that GATA-3 expression must be sustained to maintain the Th2 phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Sung-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: Morgan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Truitt
authors.forename: I-Cheng
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494748:Gata3 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators