Topoisomerases in Immune Cell Development and Function

J Immunol. 2023 Jan 15;210(2):126-133. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200650.

Abstract

DNA topoisomerases (TOPs) are complex enzymatic machines with extraordinary capacity to maintain DNA topology during torsion-intensive steps of replication and transcription. Recently, TOPs have gained significant attention for their tissue-specific function, and the vital role of TOPs in immune homeostasis and dysfunction is beginning to emerge. TOPs have been implicated in various immunological disorders such as autoimmunity, B cell immunodeficiencies, and sepsis, underscoring their importance in immune regulation. However, much remains unknown about immunological underpinnings of TOPs, and a deeper understanding of the role of TOPs in the immune system will be critical for yielding significant insights into the etiology of immunological disorders. In this review, we first discuss the recent literature highlighting the contribution of TOPs in the development of immune cells, and we further provide an overview of their importance in immune cell responses.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Autoimmunity
  • DNA*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes*

Substances

  • DNA