1: J Exp Med. 2003 Jul 7;198(1):51-61. Epub 2003 Jun 30. 

The Runx1 transcription factor inhibits the differentiation of naive CD4+ T
cells into the Th2 lineage by repressing GATA3 expression.

Komine O, Hayashi K, Natsume W, Watanabe T, Seki Y, Seki N, Yagi R, Sukzuki W,
Tamauchi H, Hozumi K, Habu S, Kubo M, Satake M.

Research Institute for Biological Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda,
Japan.

Differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into helper T (Th) cells is controlled by
a combination of several transcriptional factors. In this study, we examined the
functional role of the Runx1 transcription factor in Th cell differentiation.
Naive T cells from transgenic mice expressing a dominant interfering form of
Runx1 exhibited enhanced interleukin 4 production and efficient Th2
differentiation. In contrast, transduction of Runx1 into wild-type T cells
caused a complete attenuation of Th2 differentiation and was accompanied by the
cessation of GATA3 expression. Furthermore, endogenous expression of Runx1 in
naive T cells declined after T cell receptor stimulation, at the same time that
expression of GATA3 increased. We conclude that Runx1 plays a novel role as a
negative regulator of GATA3 expression, thereby inhibiting the Th2 cell
differentiation.

PMID: 12835475 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


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