First Author | Vacchio MS | Year | 2014 |
Journal | Nat Immunol | Volume | 15 |
Issue | 10 | Pages | 947-56 |
PubMed ID | 25129370 | Mgi Jnum | J:220892 |
Mgi Id | MGI:5637405 | Doi | 10.1038/ni.2960 |
Citation | Vacchio MS, et al. (2014) A ThPOK-LRF transcriptional node maintains the integrity and effector potential of post-thymic CD4+ T cells. Nat Immunol 15(10):947-56 |
abstractText | The transcription factor ThPOK promotes CD4(+) T cell differentiation in the thymus. Here, using a mouse strain that allows post-thymic gene deletion, we show that ThPOK maintains CD4(+) T lineage integrity and couples effector differentiation to environmental cues after antigenic stimulation. ThPOK preserved the integrity and amplitude of effector responses and was required for proper differentiation of types 1 and 2 helper T cells in vivo by restraining the expression and function of Runx3, a nuclear factor crucial for cytotoxic T cell differentiation. The transcription factor LRF acts redundantly with ThPOK to prevent the transdifferentiation of mature CD4(+) T cells into CD8(+) T cells. As such, the ThPOK-LRF transcriptional module was essential for CD4(+) T cell integrity and responses. |