NFAT transcription factors in control of peripheral T cell tolerance.
The Ca++-regulated calcineurin/NFAT cascade is one of the crucial signalling pathways that controls adaptive immunity. However, a number of novel experimental data suggest that, in addition to their role in T cell activation, NFATc transcription factors play also a decisive role in the generation of peripheral tolerance against self-antigens. This function of NFATc factors is mediated by controlling activation-induced cell death and clonal anergy of T helper cells and the activity of regulatory T cells. The multi-functional role of NFATc proteins characterize these transcription factors as key regulators of immunological tolerance and, if dysregulated, of development of autoimmune diseases.
Serfling
Edgar
E
Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. serfling.e@mail.uni-wuerzburg.de
Klein-Hessling
Stefan
S
Palmetshofer
Alois
A
Bopp
Tobias
T
Stassen
Michael
M
Schmitt
Edgar
E
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D017635:Clonal Anergy / Q000235:genetics*; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases