Master regulators or lineage-specifying? Changing views on CD4(+) T cell transcription factors

作者：Oestreich Kenneth J; Weinmann Amy S^*

来源：Nature Reviews Immunology, 2012, 12(11): 799-804.

DOI：10.1038/nri3321

There is an emerging body of research demonstrating that the co-expression of key lineage-specifying transcription factors, commonly referred to as 'master regulators', affects the functional capabilities and flexibility of CD4(+) T cell subsets. Here, we discuss how the natural co-expression of these lineage-specifying transcription factors has challenged the concept that the expression of a single 'master regulator' strictly establishes an absolute CD4(+) T cell phenotype. Instead, it is becoming clear that the interplay between the lineage-specifying (or lineage-defining) transcription factors, including T-bet, GATA3, ROR gamma t, BCL-6 and FOXP3, contributes to the fate and flexibility of CD4(+) T cell subtypes. This in turn has led to the realization that CD4(+) T cell phenotypes are more diverse than previously recognized.

• 出版日期2012-11