The transcription factor Bcl11b is specifically expressed in group 2 innate lymphoid cells and is essential for their development.

Abstract

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), or ILC2s, are a subset of recently identified ILCs, which play important roles in innate immunity by producing type 2 effector cytokines. Several transcription factors have been found to have critical functions in the development of both ILC2s and T cells. We report here that Bcl11b, a transcription factor essential in T cell lineage commitment and maintenance, is specifically expressed in progenitors committed to the ILC2 lineage and is required for ILC2 development. The Bcl11b gene is expressed in ∼28% of ILC progenitors (ILCPs; common helper innate lymphoid progenitors or ILCPs expressing either ID2 or promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger, respectively). Both in vitro and in vivo, these Bcl11b-expressing early ILCPs generate only ILC2s. Inactivation of Bcl11b causes a complete loss of ILC2 development from hematopoietic progenitors, which is confirmed upon immune challenge with either papain administration or influenza virus infection.

• Authors: Yong Yu, Cui Wang, Simon Clare, Juexuan Wang, Song-Choon Lee, Cordelia Brandt, Shannon Burke, Liming Lu, Daqian He, Nancy A Jenkins, Neal G Copeland, Gordon Dougan, Pentao Liu
• Journal: The Journal of experimental medicine (J Exp Med) Vol. 212 Issue 6 Pg. 865-74 (Jun 01 2015) ISSN: 1540-9538 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25964371 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2015 Yu et al.

Chemical References

• Bcl11b protein, mouse
• GATA3 Transcription Factor
• Gata3 protein, mouse
• Icos protein, mouse
• Il1rl1 protein, mouse
• Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein
• Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein
• Receptors, Interleukin
• Repressor Proteins
• Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Cell Lineage
• Cell Separation
• Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
• Female
• Flow Cytometry
• GATA3 Transcription Factor (metabolism)
• Gene Deletion
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Genes, Reporter
• Hematopoietic Stem Cells (cytology)
• Immunity, Innate
• Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein (metabolism)
• Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein
• Lymphocytes (cytology, metabolism)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Transgenic
• Receptors, Interleukin (metabolism)
• Repressor Proteins (metabolism)
• Tumor Suppressor Proteins (metabolism)
• Zinc Fingers