Bhlhe40 and Bhlhe41 transcription factors regulate alveolar macrophage self-renewal and identity.

ABSTRACT: Tissues in multicellular organisms are populated by resident macrophages, which perform both generic and tissue-specific functions. The latter are induced by signals from the microenvironment and rely on unique tissue-specific molecular programs requiring the combinatorial action of tissue-specific and broadly expressed transcriptional regulators. Here, we identify the transcription factors Bhlhe40 and Bhlhe41 as novel regulators of alveolar macrophages (AMs)-a population that provides the first line of immune defense and executes homeostatic functions in lung alveoli. In the absence of these factors, AMs exhibited decreased proliferation that resulted in a severe disadvantage of knockout AMs in a competitive setting. Gene expression analyses revealed a broad cell-intrinsic footprint of Bh

SUBMITTER: Rauschmeier R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6769426 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature