title: From hematopoietic progenitors to B cells: mechanisms of lineage restriction and commitment.
abstract: The generation of B lymphocytes from hematopoietic progenitors requires lineage-specific transcription factors that progressively direct cell fate choices. Differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells to lymphoid progenitors requires Ikaros-dependent lineage priming and graded levels of PU.1, which are controlled by Ikaros and Gfi1. E2A drives expression of EBF1, which initiates B lineage specification. EBF1, in addition to Pax5, is necessary for commitment to the B cell lineage. As a model of gene activation in early B lymphopoiesis, mb-1 genes are activated sequentially by factors (e.g. EBF1) that initiate chromatin modifications before transcription. This review highlights the requisite interplay between transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms in the context of B cell development.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
authors.forename: Julita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lukin
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hagman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000276:immunology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D038041:Lymphopoiesis; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D014157:Transcription Factors