Critical role of the Polycomb and Trithorax complexes in the maintenance of CD4 T cell memory

Semin Immunol. 2009 Apr;21(2):78-83. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2009.02.001. Epub 2009 Mar 9.

Abstract

The maintenance of memory CD4 T cells is crucial for the establishment of immunological memory. The Polycomb (PcG) and Trithorax group (TrxG) genes control key developmental regulators such as the homeobox genes, and these two antagonize each other in the same developmental processes. Recently, PcG gene Bmi1 has been found to control memory Th1/Th2 cell survival and TrxG gene MLL is to control the maintenance of memory Th2 cell function selectively. Therefore, in memory CD4 T cells, PcG and TrxG genes appear to control distinct processes in a distinct manner, which indicates a novel regulatory feature of the PcG/TrxG genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Chromatin / immunology
  • DNA Methylation / immunology
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Multiprotein Complexes / chemistry
  • Multiprotein Complexes / immunology
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / chemistry
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / genetics
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / immunology*
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / metabolism
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / immunology*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / immunology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / chemistry
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / immunology*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • BMI1 protein, human
  • Chromatin
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • KMT2A protein, human
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PMAIP1 protein, human
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 1