title: Epigenetic control of FOXP3 expression: the key to a stable regulatory T-cell lineage?
abstract: Regulatory T (T(Reg)) cells constitute a unique T-cell lineage that has a crucial role in immunological tolerance. Several years ago, forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) was identified as the transcription factor that was responsible for determining the development and function of these cells. However, the underlying mechanisms that are involved in the regulation of the FOXP3 gene remain unclear and therefore preclude accurate identification and manipulation of T(Reg) cells. In this Progress article, we summarize recent advances in understanding how FOXP3 expression is controlled and highlight evidence suggesting that epigenetic regulation of the FOXP3 locus contributes to its role as a lineage-specification factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Immunology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany. jochen.huehn@helmholtz-hzi.de
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huehn
authors.forename: Julia K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Polansky
authors.forename: Alf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D038041:Lymphopoiesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse