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Transcriptional control of natural killer cell differentiation and function

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Abstract

Gene expression can be modulated depending on physiological and developmental requirements. A multitude of regulatory genes, which are organized in interdependent networks, guide development and eventually generate specific phenotypes. Transcription factors (TF) are a key element in the regulatory cascade controlling cell fate and effector functions. In this review, we discuss recent data on the diversity of TF that determine natural killer (NK) cell fate and NK cell function.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of the Swiss National Science Foundation (31-109832 to AMF) and the Medical Research Council-UK (G0802068 to G.M.L. and A.M.F., and G0901737 to H.J.B.). The authors also acknowledge financial support from the Department of Health via the National Institute for Health research (NIHR) comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre award to Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with King’s College London and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicting financial interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Transplantation, Guy’s Hospital , King’s College London, 5th floor Tower Wing, London, SE1 9RT, UK

    Alfonso Martín-Fontecha & Graham M. Lord

  2. Section of Immunity and Infection, Cell and Molecular Biology Division, Department of Life Sciences, Immunology and Infection, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

    Hugh J. M. Brady

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  1. Alfonso Martín-Fontecha
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  2. Graham M. Lord
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  3. Hugh J. M. Brady
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Correspondence to Alfonso Martín-Fontecha.

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Martín-Fontecha, A., Lord, G.M. & Brady, H.J.M. Transcriptional control of natural killer cell differentiation and function. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 68, 3495–3503 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-011-0800-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-011-0800-9

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