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Epigenetic Control of Lymphocyte Differentiation

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Epigenetic Contributions in Autoimmune Disease

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 711))

Abstract

Lymphocyte differentiation from haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is a multi-step process in which lineage fate choices are made at crucial branch points. Plasticity of common precursors is evidenced by presence of transcriptionally favourable chromatin structures at several lineage-specific loci, making them poised for further priming and regulation. Down the differentiation tree, the interplay between lineage-specific networks of transcription factors and epigenetic modifications gradually decreases the multipotency ability of precursors and increases the compromise of cells within a particular lineage. The maintenance of a cell-specific phenotype is the result of sustained gene expression programs resulting from activation of lineage-specific and repression of lineage-discrepant loci. The peripheral functional specialisation of lymphocytes requires further plasticity, to allow differentiation onto short term effectors cells, or long term memory circulating and resident cells. Impaired differentiation of lymphocytes or deregulated or unbalanced production of certain lymphocytes subsets underlies the pathogenesis of lymphoproliferation, autoimmunity and possibly immunodeficiency. Understanding epigenetic mechanisms governing lymphocyte differentiation would allow future therapeutic interventions to prevent aberrant deviations or promote beneficial cell populations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Immunology Department University Hospital La Paz, Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid, Spain

    Eduardo Lopez-Granados

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  1. Eduardo Lopez-Granados
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain

    Esteban Ballestar PhD

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© 2011 Landes Bioscience and Springer Science+Business Media

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Lopez-Granados, E. (2011). Epigenetic Control of Lymphocyte Differentiation. In: Ballestar, E. (eds) Epigenetic Contributions in Autoimmune Disease. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 711. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-8216-2_3

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