title: Genomic views of STAT function in CD4+ T helper cell differentiation.
abstract: Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins are well known for their essential roles in transmitting cytokine-mediated signals and specifying T helper (T(H)) cell differentiation. Recent technological advances have revealed that STAT proteins have broad and complex roles in gene regulation and epigenetic control, including important roles as functional repressors. However, the challenge of how to link signal transduction, nucleosome biology and gene regulation remains. The relevance of tackling this problem is highlighted by genome-wide association studies that link cytokine signalling and STATs to various autoimmune or immune deficiency disorders. Defining exactly how extrinsic signals control the specification and plasticity of T(H) cells will provide important insights and perhaps therapeutic opportunities in these diseases.
authors: Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. osheajo@mail.nih.gov
authors: John J
authors: JJ
authors: O'Shea
authors: Riitta
authors: R
authors: Lahesmaa
authors: Golnaz
authors: G
authors: Vahedi
authors: Arian
authors: A
authors: Laurence
authors: Yuka
authors: Y
authors: Kanno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D009707:Nucleosomes; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors