Origins of lymphocyte developmental programs: transcription factor evidence

EV Rothenberg, R Pant - Seminars in immunology, 2004 - Elsevier
Seminars in immunology, 2004Elsevier
This review explores the evolutionary origins of lymphocyte development by focusing on the
transcription factors that direct mammalian lymphocyte development today. Gene expression
data suggest that the programs to make lymphocytes involve the same transcription factor
ensembles in all animals with lymphocytes. Most of these factors, GATA, Runx, PU. 1/Spi,
EBF/Olf, Ikaros, and Pax-2/5/8 family members, are also encoded in the genomes of animals
without lymphocytes. We consider the functions of these factors in animals without …
This review explores the evolutionary origins of lymphocyte development by focusing on the transcription factors that direct mammalian lymphocyte development today. Gene expression data suggest that the programs to make lymphocytes involve the same transcription factor ensembles in all animals with lymphocytes. Most of these factors, GATA, Runx, PU.1/Spi, EBF/Olf, Ikaros, and Pax-2/5/8 family members, are also encoded in the genomes of animals without lymphocytes. We consider the functions of these factors in animals without lymphocytes in terms of discrete program components, which could have been assembled in a new way to create the lymphocyte developmental program ∼500My ago.
Elsevier