title: Holistic systems biology approaches to molecular mechanisms of human helper T cell differentiation to functionally distinct subsets.
abstract: Current knowledge of helper T cell differentiation largely relies on data generated from mouse studies. To develop therapeutical strategies combating human diseases, understanding the molecular mechanisms how human naïve T cells differentiate to functionally distinct T helper (Th) subsets as well as studies on human differentiated Th cell subsets is particularly valuable. Systems biology approaches provide a holistic view of the processes of T helper differentiation, enable discovery of new factors and pathways involved and generation of new hypotheses to be tested to improve our understanding of human Th cell differentiation and immune-mediated diseases. Here, we summarize studies where high-throughput systems biology approaches have been exploited to human primary T cells. These studies reveal new factors and signalling pathways influencing T cell differentiation towards distinct subsets, important for immune regulation. Such information provides new insights into T cell biology and into targeting immune system for therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lönnberg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lahesmaa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D061251:Primary Cell Culture; D015398:Signal Transduction; D049490:Systems Biology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors