Master regulators or lineage-specifying? Changing views on CD4+ T cell transcription factors.
There is an emerging body of research demonstrating that the co-expression of key lineage-specifying transcription factors, commonly referred to as 'master regulators', affects the functional capabilities and flexibility of CD4(+) T cell subsets. Here, we discuss how the natural co-expression of these lineage-specifying transcription factors has challenged the concept that the expression of a single 'master regulator' strictly establishes an absolute CD4(+) T cell phenotype. Instead, it is becoming clear that the interplay between the lineage-specifying (or lineage-defining) transcription factors, including T-bet, GATA3, RORγt, BCL-6 and FOXP3, contributes to the fate and flexibility of CD4(+) T cell subtypes. This in turn has led to the realization that CD4(+) T cell phenotypes are more diverse than previously recognized.
Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Box 357650, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, Washington                 98195, USA.
Kenneth J
KJ
Oestreich
Amy S
AS
Weinmann
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor
C084103:BCL6 protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; D057132:Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D000098815:T-bet Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors