研究指出轉錄因子c-Maf在第二型輔助T細胞(Th2)當中能夠調控介白素四(IL-4)的基因表現,在我們實驗室之前的研究發現酪胺酸磷酸化與SUMO化的轉譯後修飾,都是調控轉錄因子c-Maf功能重要的一環,經由SUMO化修飾會減弱c-Maf所調控的介白素四 (IL-4)的表現,以及經由酪胺酸磷酸化修飾的c-Maf則會增強介白素四的表現,在其他的研究指出c-Maf 在輔助型T淋巴球當中能夠調控介白素十 (IL-10)、介白素二十一 (IL-21)與介白素二十二 (IL-22)的表現。在我的實驗當中發現在小鼠T淋巴瘤细胞 (EL4 cells)當中,經由酪胺酸磷酸化修飾的c-Maf會增強介白素十的表現,並且利用染色質沉澱技術 (chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis)發現c-Maf的酪胺酸磷酸化對介白素十的啟動子有較強的DNA結合能力,而在第十七型輔助T細胞 (Th17)也發現c-Maf的酪胺酸磷酸化會增強介白素十與介白素二十一的表現。
c-Maf was discovered as a transcription factor of IL-4 to regulate Th2-specific Il4 gene expression. Previous studies in our lab has shown that post-transcriptional modifications, such as tyrosine-phosphorylation and SUMOylation, are important to regulate c-Maf function. Furthermore, SUMOylation attenuates c-Maf-dependent IL-4 expression. Whereas, the tyrosine-phospholated c-Maf enhances the IL-4 production. c-Maf mediates IL-21, IL-10 and IL-22 expression in Th cells. In this study, we domostrate that the phosphorylation of c-Maf enhances the IL-10 production in EL4 cells through increases the c-Maf DNA binding ability. In taddition, the IL-10 and IL-21 production are enhanced by phosphorylated c-Maf in Th17 cells.