Opposing roles of STAT4 and Dnmt3a in Th1 gene regulation.

The STAT transcription factor STAT4 is a critical regulator of Th1 differentiation and inflammatory disease. Yet, how STAT4 regulates gene expression is still unclear. In this report, we define a STAT4-dependent sequence of events including histone H3 lysine 4 methylation, Jmjd3 association with STAT4 target loci, and a Jmjd3-dependent decrease in histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation and DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) 3a association with STAT4 target loci.

The transcription factor STAT3 is required for T helper 2 cell development.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family members direct the differentiation of T helper cells, with specific STAT proteins promoting distinct effector subsets. STAT6 is required for the development of T helper 2 (Th2) cells, whereas STAT3 promotes differentiation of Th17 and follicular helper T cell subsets. We demonstrated that STAT3 was also activated during Th2 cell development and was required for the expression of Th2 cell-associated cytokines and transcription factors.

Identification of a minimal cis-element and cognate trans-factor(s) required for induction of Rac2 gene expression during K562 cell differentiation.

Rac2 is a Rho family GTPase that is widely expressed in hematopoietic cells and plays a critical role in host defense. This study investigates the mechanisms responsible for increased Rac2 gene expression during myeloid cell differentiation. Treatment of K562 chronic myelogenous leukemia cells with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) induces megakaryocytic differentiation and Rac2 gene transcription following a lag of 6-12 h.