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Sci. Signal., 12 February 2008
Vol. 1, Issue 6, p. ec57
[DOI: 10.1126/stke.16ec57]

EDITORS' CHOICE

Immunology Tipping the Balance in T Cell Decisions

Stephen J. Simpson

Science, AAAS, Cambridge CB2 1LQ, UK

In the thymus, key developmental decisions are made that have far-reaching consequences for the immune system, perhaps most notable the commitment of thymocytes to becoming CD4 (helper) or CD8 (cytotoxic) T cells. The transcriptional factor Th-POK commits thymocytes that still express both CD4 and CD8 co-receptors to becoming CD4 T cells, but how is the alternate developmental option generated? Setoguchi et al. find that cells that would otherwise be destined to become CD8+ T cells can be redirected to the CD4 lineage by loss of members of another transcription factor family, Runx. It seems that under normal circumstances, the Runx complex represses Th-POK expression and allows CD8 T cells to emerge.

R. Setoguchi, M. Tachibana, Y. Naoe, S. Muroi, K. Akiyama, C. Tezuka, T. Okuda, I. Taniuchi, Repression of the transcription factor Th-POK by Runx complexes in cytotoxic T cell development. Science 319, 822-825 (2008). [Abstract] [Full Text]

Citation: S. J. Simpson, Tipping the Balance in T Cell Decisions. Sci. Signal. 1, ec57 (2008).

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Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882)