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Review
. 2016 Jun 20:7:241.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00241. eCollection 2016.

T-bet and Eomesodermin in NK Cell Development, Maturation, and Function

Federico Simonetta  1 , Amandine Pradier  1 , Eddy Roosnek  1
Affiliations
Review

T-bet and Eomesodermin in NK Cell Development, Maturation, and Function

Federico Simonetta et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Recent reports give insights into the role of the T-box transcription factors, T-bet and Eomesodermin (Eomes), in NK cell biology. In this mini-review, we recapitulate the initial reports that delineate T-bet and Eomes as master regulators of NK cell development, maturation, and function. We discuss how T-bet and Eomes expression is regulated during NK cell development and peripheral maturation. Furthermore, we summarize the current literature on the role of T-bet and Eomes in the transcriptional regulation of NK cell function and review possible effects of T-box transcription factor anomalies during aging, infection, cancer, and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We discuss how the current data argue in favor of a model of T-bet and Eomes synergy in transcriptional regulation of NK cell function and identify T-box transcription factors as potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

Keywords: Eomes; T-bet; T-box transcription factors; natural killer cells.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
T-bet and Eomes in murine NK cell development and peripheral maturation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
T-bet and Eomes in human NK cell development and peripheral maturation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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