Recent developments in the transcriptional regulation of cytolytic effector cells

Abstract

Transcription factors have a profound influence on both the differentiation and effector function of cells of the immune system. T-bet controls the cytotoxicity of CD8(+) T cells and the production of interferon-gamma, and it also affects the development and function of natural killer cells and natural killer T cells. Other factors such as eomesodermin, MEF, ETS1 and members of the interferon-regulatory factor family also contribute to the effector function of immune cells. In this review, we focus on recent studies that have shed light on the transcriptional mechanisms that regulate cellular effector function in the immune system.

Expression and role of phosphatidylcholine‐specific phospholipase C in human NK and T lymphocyte subsets

“…PFN expression is a constitutive characteristic of resting NK cells and is induced by different signaling pathways in CD8 + T lymphocytes [18]. Our results, obtained by forming conjugates between IL-2-activated CD8 + T lymphocytes and anti CD3-covered microspheres or between CTL and specific target cells, showed that PC-PLC accumulated in the synapse regions together with PFN molecules.…”

Reduced naïve CD 8 + T ‐cell priming efficacy in elderly adults

“…4D), suggesting impaired TCR signaling in these cells. We next analyzed the intracellular expression in primed CD8 + T‐cells of the T‐box transcription factor T‐bet (also known as Tbx‐21), which lies further downstream in the TCR signaling pathway and plays an important role in effector memory T‐cell differentiation (Glimcher et al ., 2004). ELA‐specific CD8 + T‐cells expanded from elderly donor PBMCs exhibited significantly less T‐bet expression compared to CD8 + T‐cells primed from middle‐aged adult samples (Fig.…”

CD1d-restricted iNKT cells, the ‘Swiss-Army knife’ of the immune system

“…For example, iNKT cells appear to co-express both T-bet and GATA-3 transcription factors leading to the transcription of both IFNγ and IL-4 mRNAs. This is in contrast to conventional T cells where T-bet has been shown to repress the expression of GATA-3 and vice versa [44]. Further studies will be required to understand the transcriptional regulation of cytokine production by iNKT cells.…”