Ikaros in immune receptor signaling, lymphocyte differentiation, and function.

Ikaros is the founding member of a family of transcription factors. Ikaros proteins are required for the normal development of lymphocytes and other blood cell lineages, and have an important role in haematopoietic malignancies. Accumulating data link Ikaros to immune receptor rearrangement and signaling, and the balance between proliferation and differentiation of immune cells. The emerging picture is that Ikaros family members are critical for a functional immune system that confers protection against invading pathogens, while minimising the risk of leukaemic transformation, immune pathology, and autoimmunity.