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Updated: Apr 21, 2026

A Novel Feeder-free System for Mass Production of Murine Natural Killer Cells In Vitro
Published on: January 9, 2018
TOX2 regulates human natural killer cell development by controlling T-BET expression
Queenie P Vong1, Wai-Hang Leung1, Jim Houston1
1Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN;
TOX2 is crucial for natural killer (NK) cell development in humans. This transcription factor enhances NK cell maturation by regulating T-BET, essential for NK cell differentiation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- TOX2 is a transcription factor in the TOX family, sharing a conserved DNA-binding domain.
- While TOX1's role in mouse T and NK cell differentiation is known, other TOX family members' functions in human lymphocyte development are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of TOX2 in human natural killer (NK) cell development.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which TOX2 influences NK cell differentiation.
Main Methods:
- Gene silencing and overexpression of TOX2 in human umbilical cord blood (UCB)-derived CD34(+) cells.
- Analysis of NK cell differentiation stages and expression of key transcription factors.
- Investigating the regulatory relationship between TOX2, ETS-1, and TBX21 (T-BET).
Main Results:
- TOX2 is highly expressed in mature human NK cells and upregulated during their in vitro differentiation.
- TOX2 deficiency impairs NK cell development, while its overexpression enhances it.
- TOX2 directly upregulates TBX21 (T-BET) transcription, independent of ETS-1.
- T-BET overexpression rescues TOX2 knockdown-related developmental defects.
Conclusions:
- TOX2 is essential for normal human NK cell development.
- TOX2 functions upstream of TBX21 (T-BET) to control NK cell differentiation.
- These findings highlight TOX2 as a key regulator in human NK cell biology.
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