New insights into Blimp-1 in T lymphocytes: A divergent regulator of cell destiny and effector function

B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (blimp-1) serves as a master regulator of the development and function of antibody-producing b cells. given that its function in t lymphocytes has been identified within the past decade,we review recent findings with emphasis on its role in coordinated control of gene expression during the development,differentiation,and function of t cells. expression of blimp-1 is mainly confined to activated t cells and is essential for the production of interleukin (il)-10 by a subset of forkhead box (fox)p3+ regulatory t cells with an effector phenotype. blimp-1 is also required to induce cell elimination in the thymus and critically modulates peripheral t cell activation and proliferation. in addition,blimp-1 promotes t helper (th) 2 lineage commitment and limits th1,th17 and follicular helper t cell differentiation. furthermore,blimp-1 coordinates with other transcription factors to regulate expression of il-2,il-21 and il-10 in effector t lymphocytes. in cd8+ t cells,blimp-1 expression is distinct in heterogeneous populations at the stages of clonal expansion,differentiation,contraction and memory formation when they encounter antigens. moreover,blimp-1 plays a fundamental role in coordinating cytokine receptor signaling networks and transcriptional programs to regulate diverse aspects of the formation and function of effector and memory cd8+ t cells and their exhaustion. blimp-1 also functions as a gatekeeper of t cell activation and suppression to prevent or dampen autoimmune disease,antiviral responses and antitumor immunity. in this review,we discuss the emerging roles of blimp-1 in the complex regulation of gene networks that regulate the destiny and effector function of t cells and provide a blimp-1-dominated transcriptional framework for t lymphocyte homeostasis. © 2017 the author(s).