The first comprehensive catalogue of mouse genes targeted by the transcriptional factor Foxp3 appears in two papers published in this week's Nature. The lists from both studies don't always match, but the combined findings represent a key step in understanding how the protein helps regulatory T-cells maintain immune system tolerance and prevent autoimmune diseases."The papers provide the first look at relating the transcriptional DNA-binding activity of Foxp3 with specific target genes," said Fred Ramsdell of ZymoGenetics in Seattle, who was not involved in either study. "This is something the field has been looking to do for the past five years."Expressed primarily in regulatory T-cells, Foxp3 is essential to both their development and normal function. Loss-of-function Foxp3 mutations in mice and humans result in fatal autoimmune diseases.A research team led by Alexander Rudensky of the University of Washington in Seattle, with Ye Zheng as first author, used ex vivo T-cells...
Richard YoungHarald von BoehmerEthan ShevachirfCD28Cdc42Shevachctla4IL2IL2Steve Zieglercshekhar@the-scientist.comNatureNaturehttp://www.nature.comThe Scientisthttp://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/20994The Scientisthttp://www.the-scientist.com/article/display/15478Immunity'http://www.immunity.com/content/article/abstract?uid=PIIS1074761303002073 http://depts.washington.edu/immunweb/faculty/profiles/rudensky.htmlhttp://jura.wi.mit.edu/young_public/index.htmlhttp://www.dana-farber.org/res/physician/detail.asp?personID=232&RD=True&group=%28Researcher%29http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/labs/aboutlabs/li/cellularImmunologySectionhttp://www.benaroyaresearch.org/investigators/ziegler_steven
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