The histone demethylase UTX regulates the lineage-specific epigenetic program of invariant natural killer T cells

Natural killer T cells in the thymus are CD1d-restricted cells that are selected at the CD4+CD8+ double-positive stage and require a variety of transcription factors for their development. Orkin, Winau and colleagues show that the histone demethylase UTX serves an essential role in the transcriptional control of the thymic maturation of these cells through multiple epigenetic mechanisms.