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Related Concept Videos

Transcription Factors02:16

Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
Co-activators and Co-repressors02:04

Co-activators and Co-repressors

Gene transcription is regulated by the synergistic action of several proteins that form a complex at a gene regulatory site. This is observed in eukaryotes, where the regulation of gene expression is a complex process. Regulatory proteins in eukaryotes can broadly be classified into two types – regulators that bind directly to specific DNA sequences and co-regulators that associate with regulatory proteins but cannot directly bind to the DNA. These co-regulators are further divided into...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway02:26

NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway

The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
General Transcription Factors01:30

General Transcription Factors

Tissue-specific transcription factors contribute to diverse cellular functions in mammals. For example, the gene for beta globin, a major component of hemoglobin, is present in all cells of the body. However, it is only expressed in red blood cells because the transcription factors that can bind to the promoter sequences of the beta globin gene are only expressed in these cells. Tissue-specific transcription factors also ensure that mutations in these factors may impair only the function of...
NF-kB-dependent Signaling Pathway02:26

NF-kB-dependent Signaling Pathway

The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

In Vitro Differentiation of Human CD4+FOXP3+ Induced Regulatory T Cells (iTregs) from Naïve CD4+ T Cells Using a TGF-β-containing Protocol
08:20

In Vitro Differentiation of Human CD4+FOXP3+ Induced Regulatory T Cells (iTregs) from Naïve CD4+ T Cells Using a TGF-β-containing Protocol

Published on: December 30, 2016

FOXP3 controls regulatory T cell function through cooperation with NFAT.

Yongqing Wu1, Madhuri Borde, Vigo Heissmeyer

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.

Cell
|July 29, 2006
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) use a unique NFAT-FOXP3 complex to suppress immune responses. This interaction switches T cell activation programs, enabling Treg suppressor functions and treating autoimmune diabetes.

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In Vitro Differentiation of Human CD4+FOXP3+ Induced Regulatory T Cells (iTregs) from Naïve CD4+ T Cells Using a TGF-β-containing Protocol
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In Vitro Differentiation of Human CD4+FOXP3+ Induced Regulatory T Cells (iTregs) from Naïve CD4+ T Cells Using a TGF-β-containing Protocol

Published on: December 30, 2016

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In Vitro Functional Analysis of Regulatory T cells: Focus On Proliferation And Differentiation
10:21

In Vitro Functional Analysis of Regulatory T cells: Focus On Proliferation And Differentiation

Published on: June 9, 2026

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology

Background:

  • Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT) is crucial for T cell activation.
  • NFAT typically partners with AP-1 transcription factors to regulate T cell genes.
  • Regulatory T cells (Tregs) possess distinct functions requiring unique molecular mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying regulatory T cell (Treg) function.
  • To identify the transcription factors that cooperate with NFAT in Tregs.
  • To elucidate the structural basis of NFAT-FOXP3 interaction and its functional consequences.

Main Methods:

  • X-ray crystallography to determine the structure of an NFAT:FOXP2:DNA complex.
  • Site-directed mutagenesis of FOXP3 based on structural insights.
  • Functional assays measuring gene expression (IL2, CTLA4, CD25) and suppressor activity in a mouse model.

Main Results:

  • Identified a novel cooperative complex between NFAT and FOXP3 in Tregs.
  • Revealed an extensive protein-protein interaction interface between NFAT and FOXP3 (using FOXP2 structure).
  • Demonstrated that disrupting NFAT-FOXP3 interaction impairs Treg function, including IL2 repression and suppressor activity.

Conclusions:

  • NFAT partners with FOXP3 in Tregs, distinct from its role with AP-1 in conventional T cells.
  • This NFAT-FOXP3 complex is essential for Treg-mediated immune suppression.
  • Targeting the NFAT-FOXP3 interaction offers a potential therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases.