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Regulation of lymphocyte development by Notch signaling

Abstract

Notch molecules are well conserved from Drosophila melanogaster to mammals and regulate a broad spectrum of various cell lineage commitment processes. Recent studies using inhibitors, transgenic mice and conditional loss-of-function approaches have demonstrated essential roles for Notch signaling in the differentiation of thymocytes and peripheral T cells, as well as B cells. Here we highlight parallels in the developmental regulation of mammalian lymphocytes and the D. melanogaster nervous system through Notch cooperation with the transcriptional regulators RBP-J (Su(H)), MINT (Hairless) and E2A (Ac-Sc–Da).

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Figure 1: The dual role of RBP-J in Notch activity.
Figure 2: Notch and E2A during mammalian lymphocyte development.
Figure 3: Notch cooperation with E2A is conserved and influences multiple lineage decisions.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by a Center for Excellence grant from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and grants from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

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Correspondence to Tasuku Honjo.

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Tanigaki, K., Honjo, T. Regulation of lymphocyte development by Notch signaling. Nat Immunol 8, 451–456 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1453

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