The immune system is composed of two arms, the innate and the adaptive immunity. While the innate response constitutes the first line of defense and is not specific for a particular pathogen, the adaptive response is highly specific and allows for long-term memory of the pathogen encounter. T lymphocytes (or T cells) are central players in the adaptive immune response. Various aspects of T cell functions vary according to the time of day. Circadian clocks located in most tissues and cell types generate 24-hour rhythms of various physiological processes. These clocks are based on a set of clock genes, and this timing mechanism controls rhythmically the expression of numerous other genes. Clock genes are expressed in cells of the immune system, including T cells. In this review, we provide an overview of the circadian control of the adaptive immune response, with emphasis on T cells, including their development, trafficking, response to antigen, and effector functions. Bmal1 REV-ERB Clock-controlled genes Rhythmic enzymes, receptors, cytokines, transcription factors, etc ROR CLOCK PER CRY Cry1,2 Per1, 2, 3 Rev-Erbα, β Rorα, β, γ BMAL1 Figure 1The basic circadian clock mechanism in mammals. Notes: Most cells in the organism have a circadian clock, whose mechanism relies on a set of clock genes. The CLOCK/BMAL1 transcription factor complex positively regulates Per and Cry genes. PeR and CRY proteins accumulate and then form complexes, enter the nucleus, and inhibit their own expression by repressing CLOCK/BMAL1 activity. in parallel, CLOCK/BMAL1 activates the Rev-Erb and Ror genes. ROR factors positively regulate Bmal1 gene expression, whereas Rev-eRB factors repress it. Clock transcription factors, such as CLOCK/BMAL1 and Rev-eRBα, also regulate rhythmically the transcription of many other genes termed clock-controlled genes, which encode various types of proteins and constitute the output of the circadian clock.ChronoPhysiology and Therapy downloaded from https: //www.dovepress.com/ by 44.224.250.200 on 05-Aug-2020 For personal use only.
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Nobis et alChronoPhysiology and Therapy downloaded from https: //www.dovepress.com/ by 44.224.250.200 on 05-Aug-2020 For personal use only.