Transcription Factors in Immunological Disease and Haematological Malignancies

Book excerpt: Transcription factors are nuclear proteins that control the rate of gene expression, activating or repressing transcription in a context-dependent manner. These regulators lie at the heart of most cell fate decisions of immune cells, guiding the initiation and maintenance of lineage identity and controlling the cell-type-specific gene expression that underpins the unique functions of each immune cell lineage. As such transcription factors are of critical importance for a healthy immune system, with mutation of specific factors leading to immune dysregulation with immunodeficiency and autoimmunity. In addition, perturbation of transcription factors known to regulate immune cell function have been implicated in the genesis of haematological malignancies through chromosomal translocation, over-expression or genetic deletion.