Epigenetic regulation of T cell development

Abstract

Epigenetic regulators are pivotal factors that influence and control T cell development. Recent findings continue to reveal additional elements of epigenetic modifications that play significant and crucial roles at different stages of T cell development. Through gaining a better understanding of the various epigenetic factors that influence the formation and survival of maturing T cells, new therapies can potentially be developed to combat diseases caused by dysregulated epigenetic chromatin modifications. In this review, we summarize the recent studies which shed light on the epigenetic regulation of T cell development especially at the critical stage of β-selection.

Keywords:

• Epigenetics
• β-selection
• T cell development
• thymocytes

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Remy Bosselut, NCI/NIH for helpful comments and suggestions.

Author Contributions

A.D., H.V., and P.E.L. discussed and wrote the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Declaration of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the US Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P.E.L., project number 1ZIAHD001803-27).