IRF4 at the crossroads of effector T-cell fate decision.
Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a transcription factor that is expressed in hematopoietic cells and plays pivotal roles in the immune response. Originally described as a lymphocyte-specific nuclear factor, IRF4 promotes differentiation of naïve CD4(+) T cells into T helper 2 (Th2), Th9, Th17, or T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and is required for the function of effector regulatory T (eTreg) cells. Moreover, IRF4 is essential for the sustained differentiation of cytotoxic effector CD8(+) T cells, for CD8(+) T-cell memory formation, and for differentiation of naïve CD8(+) T cells into IL-9-producing (Tc9) and IL-17-producing (Tc17) CD8(+) T-cell subsets. In this review, we focus on recent findings on the role of IRF4 during the development of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell subsets and the impact of IRF4 on T-cell-mediated immune responses in vivo.
Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Magdalena
M
Huber
Michael
M
Lohoff
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology; D000099218:Interferon Regulatory Factor-4
D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D000099218:Interferon Regulatory Factor-4
CD4+ T cells; CD8+ T cells; Interferon regulatory factor 4; T-cell differentiation; T-cell subsets