Regulation of basophil and mast cell development by transcription factors

Allergol Int. 2016 Apr;65(2):127-134. doi: 10.1016/j.alit.2016.01.006. Epub 2016 Mar 10.

Abstract

Basophils and mast cells play important roles in host defense against parasitic infections and allergic responses. Several progenitor populations, either shared or specific, for basophils and/or mast cells have been identified, thus elucidating the developmental pathways of these cells. Multiple transcription factors essential for their development and the relationships between them have been also revealed. For example, IRF8 induces GATA2 expression to promote the generation of both basophils and mast cells. The STAT5-GATA2 axis induces C/EBPα and MITF expression, facilitating the differentiation into basophils and mast cells, respectively. In addition, C/EBPα and MITF mutually suppress each other's expression. This review provides an overview of recent advances in our understanding of how transcription factors regulate the development of basophils and mast cells.

Keywords: Basophils; Hematopoiesis; Mast cells; Progenitors; Transcription factors.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basophils / cytology*
  • Basophils / immunology
  • Basophils / metabolism*
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Differentiation* / genetics
  • Cell Differentiation* / immunology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Hematopoiesis
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / cytology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mast Cells / cytology*
  • Mast Cells / immunology
  • Mast Cells / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Animal
  • Protein Binding
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Transcription Factors