Epigenetic regulation of cytokine gene expression in T lymphocytes.
The developmental program of T helper and regulatory T cell lineage commitment is governed by both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. The principal events, signaling pathways and the lineage determining factors involved have been extensively studied in the past ten years. Recent studies have elucidated the important role of chromatin remodeling and epigenetic changes for proper regulation of gene expression of lineage-specific cytokines. These include DNA methylation and histone modifications in epigenomic reprogramming during T helper cell development and effector T cell functions. This review discusses the basic epigenetic mechanisms and the role of transcription factors for the differential cytokine gene regulation in the T helper lymphocyte subsets.
Lee
Choong-Gu
CG
Department of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 1 Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju 500-712,Korea.
Sahoo
Anupama
A
Im
Sin-Hyeog
SH
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*
D016207:Cytokines