Defining B Cell Chromatin: Lessons from EBF1

Trends Genet. 2018 Apr;34(4):257-269. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.12.014. Epub 2018 Jan 11.

Abstract

Hematopoiesis is regulated by signals from the microenvironment, transcription factor networks, and changes of the epigenetic landscape. Transcription factors interact with and shape chromatin to allow for lineage- and cell type-specific changes in gene expression. During B lymphopoiesis, epigenetic regulation is observed in multilineage progenitors in which a specific chromatin context is established, at the onset of the B cell differentiation when early B cell factor 1 (EBF1) induces lineage-specific changes in chromatin, during V(D)J recombination and after antigen-driven activation of B cells and terminal differentiation. In this review, we discuss the epigenetic changes underlying B cell differentiation, focusing on the role of transcription factor EBF1 in B cell lineage priming.

Keywords: B cell differentiation; Early B cell factor 1; chromatin; transcription factor network.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage / genetics
  • Cell Lineage / immunology
  • Chromatin / chemistry*
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Regulatory Networks*
  • Histones / genetics
  • Histones / immunology
  • Humans
  • Lymphopoiesis / genetics*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / immunology
  • Trans-Activators / genetics*
  • Trans-Activators / immunology
  • V(D)J Recombination

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • EBF1 protein, human
  • Histones
  • Trans-Activators