Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
Immunity. 2011 Sep 23;35(3):337-48. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2011.08.012. Epub 2011 Sep 15.
Forkhead Box P3 (Foxp3)-expressing regulatory T (Treg) cells are central to maintaining self-tolerance and immune homeostasis. How Treg cell function and Foxp3 expression are regulated is an important question under intensive investigation. Here, we have demonstrated an essential role for the transcription factor GATA-3, a previously recognized Th2 cell master regulator, in controlling Treg cell function. Treg cell-specific GATA-3 deletion led to a spontaneous inflammatory disorder in mice. GATA-3-null Treg cells were defective in peripheral homeostasis and suppressive function, gained Th17 cell phenotypes, and expressed reduced amounts of Foxp3. In addition, GATA-3 controlled Foxp3 expression by binding to and promoting the activity of cis-acting elements of Foxp3. Furthermore, the combined function of GATA-3 and Foxp3 was essential for Foxp3 expression. These findings provide insights into immune regulatory mechanisms and uncover a critical function of GATA-3 in Treg cells and immune tolerance.
叉头框蛋白 P3(Foxp3)表达的调节性 T(Treg)细胞对于维持自身耐受和免疫稳态至关重要。Treg 细胞功能和 Foxp3 表达的调节方式是一个受到深入研究的重要问题。在这里,我们证明了转录因子 GATA-3 的重要作用,GATA-3 是先前公认的 Th2 细胞主要调节因子,它在控制 Treg 细胞功能方面发挥着重要作用。Treg 细胞特异性 GATA-3 缺失导致小鼠发生自发性炎症性疾病。GATA-3 缺陷的 Treg 细胞在外周稳态和抑制功能方面存在缺陷,获得了 Th17 细胞表型,并表达了较少的 Foxp3。此外,GATA-3 通过结合并促进 Foxp3 顺式作用元件的活性来控制 Foxp3 的表达。此外,GATA-3 和 Foxp3 的联合功能对于 Foxp3 的表达是必不可少的。这些发现为免疫调节机制提供了新的见解,并揭示了 GATA-3 在 Treg 细胞和免疫耐受中的关键功能。