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Lin Y, Yang B, Liu H, Ran G, Song L, Meng M, Yin X, Bi Q, Yan D, Deng Y, Lu Y. DNA demethylase Tet2 promotes the terminal maturation of natural killer cells. Immunol Res 2024:10.1007/s12026-024-09506-4. [PMID: 38869819 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-024-09506-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
The cytotoxicity feature to eliminate malignant cells makes natural killer (NK) cells a candidate for tumor immunotherapy. However, this scenario is currently hampered by inadequate understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of NK cell development. Ten-Eleven-Translocation 2 (Tet2) is a demethylase whose mutation was recently shown to cause phenotypic defects in NK cells. However, the role of Tet2 in the development and maturation of NK cells is not entirely clear. Here we studied the modulatory role of Tet2 in NK cell development and maturation by generating hematopoietic Tet2 knockout mice and mice with Tet2 conditional deletion in NKp46+ NK cells. The results showed that both hematopoietic and NK cell conditional deletion of Tet2 had no effect on the early steps of NK cell development, but impaired the terminal maturation of NK cells defined by CD11b, CD43, and KLRG1 expression. In the liver, Tet2 deletion not only prevented the terminal maturation of NK cells, but also increased the proportion of type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) and reduced the proportion of conventional NK cells (cNK). Moreover, hematopoietic deletion of Tet2 lowered the protein levels of perforin in NK cells. Furthermore, hematopoietic deletion of Tet2 downregulated the protein levels of Eomesodermin (Eomes), but not T-bet, in NK cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that Tet2 plays an important role in the terminal maturation of NK cells, and the Eomes transcription factor may be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Lin
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, 154007, China
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Pathology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, 400030, China
| | - Biyun Yang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, 154007, China
| | - Hailin Liu
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Department of Pharmacy, First People's Hospital of Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing, 401121, China
| | - Guanghe Ran
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, 154007, China
| | - Liang Song
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Meng Meng
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Xiaofeng Yin
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Qinghua Bi
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Dongmei Yan
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, 154007, China.
| | - Youcai Deng
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Yonghui Lu
- Department of Clinical Hematology, College of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine Science, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
- Department of Occupational Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China.
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Ke P, Zheng C, Liu F, Wu L, Tang Y, Wu Y, Lv D, Chen H, Qian L, Wu X, Zeng K. Relationship between circadian genes and memory impairment caused by sleep deprivation. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13165. [PMID: 35341046 PMCID: PMC8944342 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Sleep deprivation (SD)-induced cognitive impairment is highly prevalent worldwide and has attracted widespread attention. The temporal and spatial oscillations of circadian genes are severely disturbed after SD, leading to a progressive loss of their physiological rhythms, which in turn affects memory function. However, there is a lack of research on the role of circadian genes and memory function after SD. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between circadian genes and memory function and provide potential therapeutic insights into the mechanism of SD-induced memory impairment. Methods Gene expression profiles of GSE33302 and GSE9442 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) were applied to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Subsequently, both datasets were subjected to Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to determine the overall gene changes in the hippocampus and brain after SD. A Gene Oncology (GO) analysis and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analysis were employed to explore the genes related to circadian rhythm, with their relationship and importance determined through a correlation analysis and a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), respectively. The water maze experiments detected behavioral changes related to memory function in SD rats. The expression of circadian genes in several critical organs such as the brain, heart, liver, and lungs and their correlation with memory function was investigated using several microarrays. Finally, changes in the hippocampal immune environment after SD were analyzed using the CIBERSORT in R software. Results The quality of the two datasets was very good. After SD, changes were seen primarily in genes related to memory impairment and immune function. Genes related to circadian rhythm were highly correlated with engagement in muscle structure development and circadian rhythm. Seven circadian genes showed their potential therapeutic value in SD. Water maze experiments confirmed that SD exacerbates memory impairment-related behaviors, including prolonged escape latencies and reduced numbers of rats crossing the platform. The expression of circadian genes was verified, while some genes were also significant in the heart, liver, and lungs. All seven circadian genes were also associated with memory markers in SD. The contents of four immune cells in the hippocampal immune environment changed after SD. Seven circadian genes were related to multiple immune cells. Conclusions In the present study, we found that SD leads to memory impairment accompanied by changes in circadian rhythm-related genes. Seven circadian genes play crucial roles in memory impairment after SD. Naïve B cells and follicular helper T cells are closely related to SD. These findings provide new insights into the treatment of memory impairment caused by SD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ke
- Department of Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology Research Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China,Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Chengjie Zheng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - LinJie Wu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yijie Tang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yanqin Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Dongdong Lv
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Huangli Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Lin Qian
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaodan Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengli Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Kai Zeng
- Department of Anesthesiology, Anesthesiology Research Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
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Grimaldi A, Pietropaolo G, Stabile H, Kosta A, Capuano C, Gismondi A, Santoni A, Sciumè G, Fionda C. The Regulatory Activity of Noncoding RNAs in ILCs. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102742. [PMID: 34685721 PMCID: PMC8534545 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are innate lymphocytes playing essential functions in protection against microbial infections and participate in both homeostatic and pathological contexts, including tissue remodeling, cancer, and inflammatory disorders. A number of lineage-defining transcription factors concurs to establish transcriptional networks which determine the identity and the activity of the distinct ILC subsets. However, the contribution of other regulatory molecules in controlling ILC development and function is also recently emerging. In this regard, noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) represent key elements of the complex regulatory network of ILC biology and host protection. ncRNAs mostly lack protein-coding potential, but they are endowed with a relevant regulatory activity in immune and nonimmune cells because of their ability to control chromatin structure, RNA stability, and/or protein synthesis. Herein, we summarize recent studies describing how distinct types of ncRNAs, mainly microRNAs, long ncRNAs, and circular RNAs, act in the context of ILC biology. In particular, we comment on how ncRNAs can exert key effects in ILCs by controlling gene expression in a cell- or state-specific manner and how this tunes distinct functional outputs in ILCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Grimaldi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.P.); (H.S.); (A.K.); (A.G.); (A.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Giuseppe Pietropaolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.P.); (H.S.); (A.K.); (A.G.); (A.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Helena Stabile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.P.); (H.S.); (A.K.); (A.G.); (A.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Andrea Kosta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.P.); (H.S.); (A.K.); (A.G.); (A.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Cristina Capuano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Angela Gismondi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.P.); (H.S.); (A.K.); (A.G.); (A.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Angela Santoni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.P.); (H.S.); (A.K.); (A.G.); (A.S.); (G.S.)
- IRCCS (Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Neuromed, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Sciumè
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.P.); (H.S.); (A.K.); (A.G.); (A.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Cinzia Fionda
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (A.G.); (G.P.); (H.S.); (A.K.); (A.G.); (A.S.); (G.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0649255118; Fax: +39-0644340632
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Besson L, Mery B, Morelle M, Rocca Y, Heudel PE, You B, Bachelot T, Ray-Coquard I, Villard M, Charrier E, Parant F, Viel S, Garin G, Mayet R, Perol D, Walzer T, Tredan O, Marçais A. Cutting Edge: mTORC1 Inhibition in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Negatively Affects Peripheral NK Cell Maturation and Number. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:2265-2270. [PMID: 33931486 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
NK cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes displaying strong antimetastatic activity. Mouse models and in vitro studies suggest a prominent role of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase in the control of NK cell homeostasis and antitumor functions. However, mTOR inhibitors are used as chemotherapies in several cancer settings. The impact of such treatments on patients' NK cells is unknown. We thus performed immunophenotyping of circulating NK cells from metastatic breast cancer patients treated with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus over a three-month period. Everolimus treatment resulted in inhibition of mTORC1 activity in peripheral NK cells, whereas mTORC2 activity was preserved. NK cell homeostasis was profoundly altered with a contraction of the NK cell pool and an overall decrease in their maturation. Phenotype and function of the remaining NK cell population was less affected. This is, to our knowledge, the first in vivo characterization of the role of mTOR in human NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurie Besson
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Equipe Activation et Transduction du Signal dans les Lymphocytes, Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Service d'Immunologie Biologique, Hôpital Lyon-Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Benoite Mery
- Département d'Oncologie Médicale, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | - Magali Morelle
- Centre Léon Bérard, Clinical Research Platform, Lyon, France
| | - Yamila Rocca
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Equipe Activation et Transduction du Signal dans les Lymphocytes, Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | | | - Benoit You
- Service d'Oncologie Médicale, Centre d'Investigation pour le Traitement en Oncologie et Hématologie à Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Thomas Bachelot
- Département d'Oncologie Médicale, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France
| | | | - Marine Villard
- Service d'Immunologie Biologique, Hôpital Lyon-Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Emily Charrier
- Service d'Immunologie Biologique, Hôpital Lyon-Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - François Parant
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Hôpital Lyon-Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Sébastien Viel
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Equipe Activation et Transduction du Signal dans les Lymphocytes, Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France.,Service d'Immunologie Biologique, Hôpital Lyon-Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Gwenaële Garin
- Centre Léon Bérard, Clinical Research Platform, Lyon, France
| | - Romaine Mayet
- Centre Léon Bérard, Clinical Research Platform, Lyon, France
| | - David Perol
- Centre Léon Bérard, Clinical Research Platform, Lyon, France
| | - Thierry Walzer
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Equipe Activation et Transduction du Signal dans les Lymphocytes, Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Olivier Tredan
- Département d'Oncologie Médicale, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France .,Service d'Oncologie Médicale, Centre d'Investigation pour le Traitement en Oncologie et Hématologie à Lyon, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Antoine Marçais
- Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Equipe Activation et Transduction du Signal dans les Lymphocytes, Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
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Stokic-Trtica V, Diefenbach A, Klose CSN. NK Cell Development in Times of Innate Lymphoid Cell Diversity. Front Immunol 2020; 11:813. [PMID: 32733432 PMCID: PMC7360798 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
After being described in the 1970s as cytotoxic cells that do not require MHC-dependent pre-activation, natural killer (NK) cells remained the sole member of innate lymphocytes for decades until lymphoid tissue-inducer cells in the 1990s and helper-like innate lymphoid lineages from 2008 onward completed the picture of innate lymphoid cell (ILC) diversity. Since some of the ILC members, such as ILC1s and CCR6- ILC3s, share specific markers previously used to identify NK cells, these findings provoked the question of how to delineate the development of NK cell and helper-like ILCs and how to properly identify and genetically interfere with NK cells. The description of eomesodermin (EOMES) as a lineage-specifying transcription factor of NK cells provided a candidate that may serve as a selective marker for the genetic targeting and identification of NK cells. Unlike helper-like ILCs, NK cell activation is, to a large degree, regulated by the engagement of activating and inhibitory surface receptors. NK cell research has revealed some elegant mechanisms of immunosurveillance, coined "missing-self" and "induced-self" recognition, thus complementing "non-self recognition", which is predominantly utilized by adaptive lymphocytes and myeloid cells. Notably, the balance of activating and inhibitory signals perceived by surface receptors can be therapeutically harnessed for anti-tumor immunity mediated by NK cells. This review aims to summarize the similarities and the differences in development, function, localization, and phenotype of NK cells and helper-like ILCs, with the purpose to highlight the unique feature of NK cell development and regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislava Stokic-Trtica
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Max-Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Diefenbach
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.,Mucosal and Developmental Immunology, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph S N Klose
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Zhang J, Marotel M, Fauteux-Daniel S, Mathieu AL, Viel S, Marçais A, Walzer T. T-bet and Eomes govern differentiation and function of mouse and human NK cells and ILC1. Eur J Immunol 2018; 48:738-750. [PMID: 29424438 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201747299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
T-bet and Eomes are T-box transcription factors that drive the differentiation and function of cytotoxic lymphocytes such as NK cells. Their DNA-binding domains are highly similar, suggesting redundant transcriptional activity. However, while these transcription factors have different patterns of expression, the phenotype of loss-of-function mouse models suggests that they play distinct roles in the development of NK cells and other innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). Recent technological advances using reporter mice and conditional knockouts were fundamental in defining the regulation and function of these factors at steady state and during pathological conditions such as various types of cancer or infection. Here, we review these recent developments, focusing on NK cells as prototypical cytotoxic lymphocytes and their development, and also discuss parallels between NK cells and T cells. We also examine the role of T-bet and Eomes in human NK cells and ILC1s. Considering divergent findings on mouse and human ILC1s, we propose that NK cells are defined by coexpression of T-bet and Eomes, while ILC1s express only one of these factors, either T-bet or Eomes, depending on the tissue or the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Zhang
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie-International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm, U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Marie Marotel
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie-International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm, U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France
| | - Sébastien Fauteux-Daniel
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie-International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm, U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France
| | - Anne-Laure Mathieu
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie-International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm, U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France
| | - Sébastien Viel
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie-International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm, U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France.,Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69495, Pierre-Bénite, France
| | - Antoine Marçais
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie-International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm, U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France
| | - Thierry Walzer
- CIRI, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie-International Center for Infectiology Research, Inserm, U1111, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France
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Goh W, Huntington ND. Regulation of Murine Natural Killer Cell Development. Front Immunol 2017; 8:130. [PMID: 28261203 PMCID: PMC5309223 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are effector lymphocytes of the innate immune system that are known for their ability to kill transformed and virus-infected cells. NK cells originate from hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, and studies on mouse models have revealed that NK cell development is a complex, yet tightly regulated process, which is dependent on both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The development of NK cells can be broadly categorized into two phases: lineage commitment and maturation. Efforts to better define the developmental framework of NK cells have led to the identification of several murine NK progenitor populations and mature NK cell subsets, each defined by a varied set of cell surface markers. Nevertheless, the relationship between some of these NK cell subsets remains to be determined. The classical approach to studying both NK cell development and function is to identify the transcription factors involved and elucidate the mechanistic action of each transcription factor. In this regard, recent studies have provided further insight into the mechanisms by which transcription factors, such as ID2, FOXO1, Kruppel-like factor 2, and GATA-binding protein 3 regulate various aspects of NK cell biology. It is also becoming evident that the biology of NK cells is not only transcriptionally regulated but also determined by epigenetic alterations and posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression by microRNAs. This review summarizes recent progress made in NK development, focusing primarily on transcriptional regulators and their mechanistic actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilford Goh
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicholas D. Huntington
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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