Transcription factor Ets-1 in cytokine and chemokine gene regulation

Abstract

Ets-1 is a transcription factor that is highly expressed within lymphoid cells, where it is known to control their differentiation, survival and proliferation. Ets-1 is also expressed in other cell types and can be further induced by a variety of stimuli. Accumulating evidence points to an important role for Ets-1 in regulating the differentiation of T helper cell subsets, cytotoxic T cells, B cells and other cell types. Ets-1 also directly controls the expression of cytokine and chemokine genes in a wide variety of different cellular contexts. In this review, we summarize the known roles for Ets-1 in regulating the differentiation of immune cells and other cell types. Furthermore, we review in detail the current understanding of Ets-1 regulation of cytokine and chemokine expression and how this may relate to the biological roles of Ets-1 in regulating immunity as well as in cancer progression.