cAMP responsive element modulator: a critical regulator of cytokine production.

Abstract

T lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) display a complex array of cellular, molecular, and signaling anomalies, many of which have been attributed to increased expression of the transcriptional regulator cAMP responsive element modulator α (CREMα). Recent evidence indicates that CREMα, in addition to its regulatory functions on gene promoters in T lymphocytes, alters the epigenetic conformation of cytokine genes by interacting with enzymes that control histone methylation and acetylation as well as cytosine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG) DNA methylation. This review summarizes the most recent findings on CREM protein expression in various cell types, in particular its effects on T lymphocyte biology in the context of both health and SLE. We emphasize CREMα as a key molecule that drives autoimmunity.

• Authors: Thomas Rauen, Christian M Hedrich, Klaus Tenbrock, George C Tsokos
• Journal: Trends in molecular medicine (Trends Mol Med) Vol. 19 Issue 4 Pg. 262-9 (Apr 2013) ISSN: 1471-499X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 23491535 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Histones
• Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator

Topics

• Acetylation
• Animals
• Antigen-Presenting Cells (immunology, metabolism)
• Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator (genetics, immunology)
• Cytokines (biosynthesis, genetics)
• DNA Methylation
• Epigenesis, Genetic
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Histones (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (genetics, pathology)
• Promoter Regions, Genetic
• Signal Transduction
• T-Lymphocytes (immunology, metabolism)