Analyzing expression of perforin, Runx3, and Thpok genes during positive selection reveals activation of CD8-differentiation programs by MHC II-signaled thymocytes.

Programs by MHC II-Signaled Thymocytes Reveals Activation of CD8-Differentiation and Thpok Genes during Positive Selection Analyzing Expression of Perforin, Runx3,

Essential Roles of SATB1 in Specifying T Lymphocyte Subsets.

T cell receptor (TCR) signaling by MHC class I and II induces thymocytes to acquire cytotoxic and helper fates via the induction of Runx3 and ThPOK transcription factors, respectively. The mechanisms by which TCR signaling is translated into transcriptional programs for each cell fate remain elusive. Here, we show that, in post-selection thymocytes, a genome organizer, SATB1, activates genes fo...

The transcription factor Ets1 is important for CD4 repression and Runx3 up-regulation during CD8 T cell differentiation in the thymus

The transcription factor Ets1 contributes to the differentiation of CD8 lineage cells in the thymus, but how it does so is not understood. In this study, we demonstrate that Ets1 is required for the proper termination of CD4 expression during the differentiation of major histocompatability class 1 (MHC I)-restricted thymocytes, but not for other events associated with their positive selection, ...

The transcription factor Zbtb7b promotes CD4 expression by antagonizing Runx-mediated activation of the CD4 silencer.

The persistence of CD4 expression is a key event distinguishing the differentiation of MHC class II-restricted thymocytes into CD4 T cells from that of MHC class I-restricted thymocytes into CD8 T cells. The zinc finger transcription factor Zbtb7b (or cKrox or Thpok) is normally expressed in MHC class II-restricted thymocytes and promotes CD4 lineage choice. When expressed in MHC class I-restri...

The transcription factors Runx3 and ThPOK cross-regulate acquisition of cytotoxic function by human Th1 lymphocytes

Cytotoxic CD4 (CD4CTX) T cells are emerging as an important component of antiviral and antitumor immunity, but the molecular basis of their development remains poorly understood. In the context of human cytomegalovirus infection, a significant proportion of CD4 T cells displays cytotoxic functions. We observed that the transcriptional program of these cells was enriched in CD8 T cell lineage ge...