Requirement for the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Dec2 in initial TH2 lineage commitment

Xuexian O. Yang, Pornpimon Angkasekwinai, Jinfang Zhu, Juan Peng, Zhiduo Liu, Roza Nurieva, Xikui Liu, Yeonseok Chung, Seon Hee Chang, Bing Sun, Chen Dong

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

80 Scopus citations

Abstract

How naive CD4+ T cells commit to the T helper type 2 (TH2) lineage is poorly understood. Here we show that the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor Dec2 was selectively expressed in TH2 cells. CD4+ T cells from Dec2-deficient mice showed defective TH2 differentiation in vitro and in vivo in an asthma model and in response to challenge with a parasite antigen. Dec2 promoted expression of interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13 during early TH2 differentiation and directly bound to and activated transcription of genes encoding the transcription factors JunB and GATA-3. As GATA-3 induces Dec2 expression, our findings also indicate a feed-forward regulatory circuit during TH2 differentiation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1260-1266
Number of pages7
JournalNature Immunology
Volume10
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Genetically Engineered Mouse Facility

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