title: Helper T-cell identity and evolution of differential transcriptomes and epigenomes.
abstract: CD4(+)  T cells are critical for the elimination of an immense array of microbial pathogens. Among the ways they accomplish this task is to generate progeny with specialized, characteristic patterns of gene expression. From this perspective, helper cells can be viewed as pluripotent precursors that adopt distinct cell fates. Although there are aspects of helper cell differentiation that can be modeled as a classic cell fate commitment, CD4(+)  T cells also maintain considerable flexibility in their transcriptional program. This makes sense in terms of host defense, but raises the question of how these remarkable cells balance both these requirements, a high degree of specific gene expression and the capacity for plasticity. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of CD4(+)  T-cell specification, focusing on how genomic perspectives have influenced our views of these processes. The relative contributions of sensors of the cytokine milieu, especially the signal transducer and activator of transcription family transcription factors, 'master regulators', and other transcription factors are considered as they relate to the helper cell transcriptome and epigenome.
authors: Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, National Institutes of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors: Golnaz
authors: G
authors: Vahedi
authors: Amanda
authors: A
authors: C Poholek
authors: Timothy W
authors: TW
authors: Hand
authors: Arian
authors: A
authors: Laurence
authors: Yuka
authors: Y
authors: Kanno
authors: John J
authors: JJ
authors: O'Shea
authors: Kiyoshi
authors: K
authors: Hirahara
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000276:immunology*; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014157:Transcription Factors