Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells and Tolerance

The Nuclear factor of activated T cells constitutes a family of transcription factors that have been shown to control a wide range of processes regulating cell differentiation and function. Here, we will focus on how NFAT proteins determine fate and function of T cell populations. The capacity of NFAT to regulate programs of gene expression is determined by its ability to cooperate with multiple transcription factors and, therefore, integrate calcium signaling, which mediates NFAT activation, with signaling pathways that are engaged under specific conditions and induce the activation of NFAT partners. This article will explore how, by forming specific transcriptional complexes, NFAT regulates events that are responsible for the establishment of T cell activation, differentiation, and tolerance.