title: Transcription factors and CD4 T cells seeking identity: masters, minions, setters and spikers.
abstract: Naive T cells differentiate and become distinct subsets in response to changes in the cytokine milieu. Such specialization arises through a complex and dynamic utilization of cis-regulatory enhancer elements. In this brief essay, we review recent findings on 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 in the enhancer architecture of T cells. These findings provide new insights into how signal transduction impinges upon the genome.
authors.affiliation: Lymphocyte Cell Biology Section, Molecular Immunology and Inflammation Branch, Bethesda, MD, USA. vahedig@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Golnaz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vahedi
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kanno
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sartorelli
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: O'Shea
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D057890:Epigenomics; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014157:Transcription Factors