title: E proteins in lymphocyte development and lymphoid diseases.
abstract: As members of the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family of transcription factors, E proteins function in the immune system by directing and maintaining a vast transcriptional network that regulates cell survival, proliferation, differentiation, and function. Proper activity of this network is essential to the functionality of the immune system. Aberrations in E protein expression or function can cause numerous defects, ranging from impaired lymphocyte development and immunodeficiency to aberrant function, cancer, and autoimmunity. Additionally, disruption of inhibitor of DNA-binding (Id) proteins, natural inhibitors of E proteins, can induce additional defects in development and function. Although E proteins have been investigated for several decades, their study continues to yield novel and exciting insights into the workings of the immune system. The goal of this chapter is to discuss the various classical roles of E proteins in lymphocyte development and highlight new and ongoing research into how these roles, if compromised, can lead to disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham North Carolina, USA. Electronic address: ilb2@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Belle
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhuang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011946:Receptors, Antigen / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D011946:Receptors, Antigen; C407909:TCF3 protein, human; C073366:TCF12 protein, human
keywords: B cell; Burkitt Lymphoma; Development; E2A; HEB; Id2; Id3; Sjogren's Syndrome; T cell