title: Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of T-helper lineage specification.
abstract: Combined with TCR stimuli, extracellular cytokine signals initiate the differentiation of naive CD4(+) T cells into specialized effector T-helper (Th) and regulatory T (Treg) cell subsets. The lineage specification and commitment process occurs through the combinatorial action of multiple transcription factors (TFs) and epigenetic mechanisms that drive lineage-specific gene expression programs. In this article, we review recent studies on the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of distinct Th cell lineages. Moreover, we review current study linking immune disease-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms with distal regulatory elements and their potential role in the disease etiology.
authors.affiliation: Turku Centre for Biotechnology, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; National Doctoral Programme in Informational and Structural Biology, Turku, Finland; Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine (TuDMM), University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Subhash K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lahesmaa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004742:Enhancer Elements, Genetic / Q000276:immunology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000276:immunology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000276:immunology
keywords: SNPs; STATs; T-helper cell; epigenetic modification; gene regulation; transcription factors