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Review
. 2014:381:279-326.
doi: 10.1007/82_2014_371.

Helper T cell plasticity: impact of extrinsic and intrinsic signals on transcriptomes and epigenomes

Michael Bonelli  1 , Han-Yu Shih, Kiyoshi Hirahara, Kentner Singelton, Arian Laurence, Amanda Poholek, Tim Hand, Yohei Mikami, Golnaz Vahedi, Yuka Kanno, John J O'Shea
Affiliations
Review

Helper T cell plasticity: impact of extrinsic and intrinsic signals on transcriptomes and epigenomes

Michael Bonelli et al. Curr Top Microbiol Immunol. 2014.

Abstract

CD4(+) helper T cells are crucial for autoimmune and infectious diseases; however, the recognition of the many, diverse fates available continues unabated. Precisely what controls specification of helper T cells and preserves phenotypic commitment is currently intensively investigated. In this review, we will discuss the major factors that impact helper T cell fate choice, ranging from cytokines and the microbiome to metabolic control and epigenetic regulation. We will also discuss the technological advances along with the attendant challenges presented by "big data," which allow the understanding of these processes on comprehensive scales.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Classical view of helper T cell differentiation
Helper T cells can differentiate from naïve T cells into diverse helper T cells, including Th1, Th2, Th17, T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, Th9 and Th22 cells and peripheral derived regulatory T cells (pTreg) and in contrast to thymically derived regulatory T cells (tpTreg) cells that develop in the thymus.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Epigenetic mechanisms that modify gene transcription
Specific alterations in chromatin including histone tail modifications, DNA methylation, production of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) are mechanisms that to contribute to gene regulation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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