About this Research Topic
Transcription depends on an ordered sequence of events, starting with (i) setting of the enhancer and chromatin environment, (ii) assembly of DNA binding and general transcription factors, (iii) initiation, elongation, processing of mRNA and termination, followed by (iv) creation of epigenetic marks and memory formation. Highlighting the importance of these activities, more than 10% total genes are dedicated to regulating transcriptional mechanisms. This area of research is highly active and new insights are continuously being added to our knowledge.
Cells of the immune system have unique features of gene regulation to support diverse tasks required for innate and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity involves the recognition of external infectious and noxious agents as well as internal cancer cell components, and the elimination of these agents by non-specific mechanisms. Adaptive immunity involves gene rearrangement to achieve highly specific T and B cell responses, imparting the capability of self and non-self discrimination. This requires transcription and epigenetic regulation. Adaptive immunity also employs epigenetic memory, enabling recapitulation of prior transcription. Recent advances in nuclear architecture, chromatin structure, and transcriptional regulation have provided new insights into immune responses. The increased understanding of these molecular mechanisms is now affording opportunities to improve therapeutic strategies for various diseases.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art advances in molecular immunology. We aim to gather articles on basic and translational molecular immunology related to the roles of nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription in the development and function of the immune system. We welcome the submission of Review, Mini-Review, Hypothesis and Theory and Perspective articles in the following areas:
1. Mechanisms regulating nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription during thymic development, both in thymocytes and in the thymic epithelium.
2. Mechanisms regulating nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription during the differentiation of naïve T cells into the various T cell subsets.
3. Mechanisms regulating nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription during B cell development.
4. Mechanisms regulating nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription during the development of the innate immune system.
5. Novel and emerging technologies designed to provide further insights into these mechanisms.
6. The perturbation of nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription by cancer or inflammatory diseases.
Cells of the immune system have unique features of gene regulation to support diverse tasks required for innate and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity involves the recognition of external infectious and noxious agents as well as internal cancer cell components, and the elimination of these agents by non-specific mechanisms. Adaptive immunity involves gene rearrangement to achieve highly specific T and B cell responses, imparting the capability of self and non-self discrimination. This requires transcription and epigenetic regulation. Adaptive immunity also employs epigenetic memory, enabling recapitulation of prior transcription. Recent advances in nuclear architecture, chromatin structure, and transcriptional regulation have provided new insights into immune responses. The increased understanding of these molecular mechanisms is now affording opportunities to improve therapeutic strategies for various diseases.
The aim of this Research Topic is to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art advances in molecular immunology. We aim to gather articles on basic and translational molecular immunology related to the roles of nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription in the development and function of the immune system. We welcome the submission of Review, Mini-Review, Hypothesis and Theory and Perspective articles in the following areas:
1. Mechanisms regulating nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription during thymic development, both in thymocytes and in the thymic epithelium.
2. Mechanisms regulating nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription during the differentiation of naïve T cells into the various T cell subsets.
3. Mechanisms regulating nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription during B cell development.
4. Mechanisms regulating nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription during the development of the innate immune system.
5. Novel and emerging technologies designed to provide further insights into these mechanisms.
6. The perturbation of nuclear architecture, chromatin structure and transcription by cancer or inflammatory diseases.
Keywords: Nuclear architecture, Molecular immunology, Chromatin, Transcription
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
