Post-Translational Modifications of Transcription Factors Harnessing the Etiology and Pathophysiology in Colonic Diseases

Abstract

Defects in mucosal immune balance can lead to colonic diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases and colorectal cancer. With the advancement of understanding for the immunological and molecular basis of colonic disease, therapies targeting transcription factors have become a potential approach for the treatment of colonic disease. To date, the biomedical significance of unique post-translational modifications on transcription factors has been identified, including phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, and O-GlcNAcylation. This review focuses on our current understanding and the emerging evidence of how post-translational regulations modify transcription factors involved in the etiology and pathophysiology of colonic disease as well as the implications of these findings for new therapeutic approaches in these disorders.

Keywords: O-GlcNAcylation; SUMOylation; acetylation; methylation; phosphorylation; transcription factor; ubiquitination.

Figure 1

An overview of regulation for transcription factors T-bet, Gata3, RORγt by post-translational modifications (PTMs) in innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and T helper cells. Transcription factors T-bet, Gata3 and RORγt are regulated by the post-translational modifications (P: phosphorylation; U: ubiquitination; M: methylation; A: acetylation) and the color differences indicate various modifications on their targets.

Figure 2

An overview of regulation for transcription factors STAT3, IRF4, c-Maf by post-translational modifications in T helper cells. Transcription factors STAT3, IRF4, c-Maf are regulated by the post-translational modifications (P: phosphorylation; O: O-GlcNAcylation; S: SUMOylation; U: ubiquitination) and the color differences indicate various modifications on their targets.

Figure 3

An overview of regulation for transcription factors Blimp-1 and Foxp3 by post-translational modifications in Tr1 and Treg cells. Transcription factors Blimp-1 and Foxp3 are regulated by the post-translational modifications (S: SUMOylation; P: phosphorylation; A: acetylation; U: ubiquitination; O: O-GlcNAcylation) and the color differences indicate various modifications on their targets.