The RUNX complex: reaching beyond haematopoiesis into immunity

• Published in: Immunology Vol. 146; no. 4; pp. 523 - 536
• Main Authors: Voon, Dominic Chih‐Cheng, Hor, Yit Teng, Ito, Yoshiaki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2015; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Animals; autoimmunity; Autoimmunity - genetics; B-Lymphocytes - cytology; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Cell Differentiation; Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits - genetics; Core Binding Factor alpha Subunits - metabolism; Genes; haematopoiesis; Hematopoiesis; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - cytology; Hematopoietic Stem Cells - metabolism; Humans; Immune system; Immunity; Immunity, Mucosal - genetics; Inflammation - genetics; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - metabolism; Lymphoid Tissue - embryology; Lymphoid Tissue - metabolism; mucosal immunity; Multigene Family; Myeloid Cells - cytology; Myeloid Cells - immunology; Myeloid Cells - metabolism; Organogenesis; Review; RUNX transcription factors; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - metabolism; Thymocytes - cytology; Thymocytes - immunology; Thymocytes - metabolism; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - metabolism; immune system; autoimmunity; RUNX transcription factors; haematopoiesis; mucosal immunity
• ISSN: 0019-2805; 1365-2567
• DOI: 10.1111/imm.12535

Summary Among their diverse roles as transcriptional regulators during development and cell fate specification, the RUNX transcription factors are best known for the parts they play in haematopoiesis. RUNX proteins are expressed throughout all haematopoietic lineages, being necessary for the emergence of the first haematopoietic stem cells to their terminal differentiation. Although much progress has been made since their discoveries almost two decades ago, current appreciation of RUNX in haematopoiesis is largely grounded in their lineage‐specifying roles. In contrast, the importance of RUNX to immunity has been mostly obscured for historic, technical and conceptual reasons. However, this paradigm is likely to shift over time, as a primary purpose of haematopoiesis is to resource the immune system. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests a role for RUNX in the innate immunity of non‐haematopoietic cells. This review takes a haematopoiesis‐centric approach to collate what is known of RUNX's contribution to the overall mammalian immune system and discuss their growing prominence in areas such as autoimmunity, inflammatory diseases and mucosal immunity.