| First Author | Shier P | Year | 2000 |
| Journal | Immunogenetics | Volume | 51 |
| Issue | 10 | Pages | 771-8 |
| PubMed ID | 10970091 | Mgi Jnum | J:64011 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:1888597 | Doi | 10.1007/s002510000212 |
| Citation | Shier P, et al. (2000) Tbt-1, a new T-box transcription factor induced in activated Th1 and CD8+ T cells. Immunogenetics 51(10):771-8 |
| abstractText | Differentiation of CD4+ T cells into T helper (Th) 1 or Th2 cells requires the cytokines interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-4, respectively. However, transcription factors that regulate expression of Th1 or Th2 cell-specific genes remain largely unclear. In the present study, a new Th1-specific transcription factor, named Tbt-1 (T-box protein expressed in T lymphocytes), was identified. Tbt-1 is a novel member of the T-box family, which is characterized by a conserved T-box DNA-binding domain. Unlike other known T-box proteins that regulate embryo development and organogenesis, Tbt-1 expression is restricted to adult lymphoid organs. Tbt-1 mRNA is only detected in peripheral lymphoid tissues such as spleen, lymph nodes, and blood leukocytes, but not in thymus or bone marrow. Tbt-1 mRNA is not detected in resting T cells but is strongly induced in differentiating Thl cells and CD8+ cytotoxic effector cells. In contrast, Tbt-1 expression was not observed in the entire process of Th2 cell differentiation. In addition, phylogenetic analyses indicate that Tbt-1 co-evolved with adaptive immune responses. Thus, Tbt-1 is the first T-box transcription factor shown to be specific for Th1 cell differentiation. |
