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T cell receptor signaling induces expression of lysine demethylase KDM6B to maintain Treg homeostasis
Minghong He, Beisi Xu, Pria G. Bose, Morgan J. McCullough, Rani S. Sellers, Xinying Zong, Wenjie Qi, Brianna L. Banten, Miriya K. Tune, Matthew P. Zimmerman, Genevieve Mullins, Brian C. Miller, J. Justin Milner, Jason K. Whitmire, Ageliki Tsagaratou, Karl B. Shpargel, Claire M. Doerschuk, Yong-Dong Wang, Jacob A. Steele, Shondra M. Pruett-Miller, Yongqiang Feng, Jason R. Mock
Minghong He, Beisi Xu, Pria G. Bose, Morgan J. McCullough, Rani S. Sellers, Xinying Zong, Wenjie Qi, Brianna L. Banten, Miriya K. Tune, Matthew P. Zimmerman, Genevieve Mullins, Brian C. Miller, J. Justin Milner, Jason K. Whitmire, Ageliki Tsagaratou, Karl B. Shpargel, Claire M. Doerschuk, Yong-Dong Wang, Jacob A. Steele, Shondra M. Pruett-Miller, Yongqiang Feng, Jason R. Mock
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Research Article Immunology Pulmonology

T cell receptor signaling induces expression of lysine demethylase KDM6B to maintain Treg homeostasis

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Abstract

Tregs expressing forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) play crucial roles in maintaining immune tolerance and tissue integrity. EZH2, a histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) methyltransferase, is known as a key regulator of Treg identity and suppressive function upon activation. Here, we demonstrate that the H3K27 lysine demethylase KDM6B, which catalyzes the opposing reaction to EZH2, is also required for Treg identity and function after activation. Treg-specific deletion of Kdm6b impaired tissue Treg fate and function. KDM6B was upregulated after T cell antigen receptor signaling in Tregs and contributed to the regulation of Treg-associated gene expression through both direct and indirect mechanisms. A subset of Treg functional genes were direct targets of KDM6B and were co-occupied by FOXP3 at cis-regulatory regions, where KDM6B recruitment limited H3K27me3 accumulation. More broadly, KDM6B-dependent H3K27 demethylation facilitated Treg gene expression programs that supported tissue Treg homeostasis.

Authors

Minghong He, Beisi Xu, Pria G. Bose, Morgan J. McCullough, Rani S. Sellers, Xinying Zong, Wenjie Qi, Brianna L. Banten, Miriya K. Tune, Matthew P. Zimmerman, Genevieve Mullins, Brian C. Miller, J. Justin Milner, Jason K. Whitmire, Ageliki Tsagaratou, Karl B. Shpargel, Claire M. Doerschuk, Yong-Dong Wang, Jacob A. Steele, Shondra M. Pruett-Miller, Yongqiang Feng, Jason R. Mock

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Figure 3

Kdm6b deletion impairs Treg function.

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Kdm6b deletion impairs Treg function.
Single-cell suspensions from splee...
Single-cell suspensions from spleens of male and female Foxp3YFP-Cre or Kdm6bΔTreg mice (aged 8–12 weeks) were analyzed by flow cytometry at steady state. (A) Frequency of FOXP3+ Tregs among CD4+ lymphocytes in spleen (n = 10–11 mice/strain, combining 2 separate experiments). (B) FOXP3 expression measured as gMFI (n = 5 mice/strain, representative of 2 separate experiments). (C) Frequency of CD44+CD62L– Tregs in splenic CD4+FOXP3+ cells (n = 5–6 mice/strain, representative of 2 separate experiments). (D) Immunophenotyping of splenic CD4+FOXP3+ lymphocytes (n = 5–6 mice/strain, representative of 2 separate experiments). (E) IL-10 production by splenic Tregs after PMA/ionomycin stimulation (n = 5 mice/strain, representative of 2 separate experiments). (F) In vitro suppression of CD4+ effector T cell proliferation by splenic Tregs (combined data from 3 independent assays). #P < 0.05. (G) H3K27me3 abundance in CD4+FOXP3+ or CD4+FOXP3– splenocytes (n = 5–6 mice/strain). (H) Experimental schematic of mixed bone-marrow chimeras (n = 6 mice/condition). (I–L) Analysis of CD45.2+ donor-derived cells showing Treg frequency (I), FOXP3 expression (J), Ki67+ proliferation (K), and CD44+CD62L– effector phenotype (L) in spleen, lymph nodes (LN), and lung. (M–O) Expression (gMFI) of CD25 (M), CTLA4 (N), and glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein (GITR) (O) on donor-derived Tregs across tissues. Data are given as the mean ± SEM. Statistical significance was determined by unpaired 2-tailed t tests or 2-way ANOVA with Holm-Šídák correction, as indicated. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001.

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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