The role of BTB domain-containing zinc finger proteins in T cell development and function.
Cell fate specifications during T lymphocyte differentiation result from the orchestrated expression of developmentally regulated genes. Furthermore, epigenetic processes that result in a heritable chromatin structure are required for the maintenance of gene expression programs within cells. More and more is known about the basic mechanisms of T cell development and their diversification into various peripheral T cell subsets. Recent research has begun to provide insight into the interactive network of transcription factors as critical regulators of T lymphocyte differentiation. In the past years several members of the BTB domain-containing family of zinc finger proteins (BTB-ZF) have been described to be important for the development and function of hematopoietic cells, and also to contribute to malignant hematopoiesis. This review will provide a brief overview about the role of BTB-ZF proteins during thymocyte development and T cell function.
Bilic
Ivan
I
Institute of Immunology, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 19, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
Ellmeier
Wilfried
W
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
C429757:BTBD1 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors