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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 7

KDM6B controls activation-induced global H3K27me3 level and Treg function in lung Tregs.

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KDM6B controls activation-induced global H3K27me3 level and Treg functio...
Tregs from lung and spleen single cell suspensions from male and female Foxp3YFP-Cre and Kdm6bΔTreg mice, 8–12 weeks of age, were sorted at either steady state or after being challenged with intratracheal PR8 influenza as previously described (38) at day 15 after PR8 influenza infection and used for either H3K27me3 CUT&RUN-Seq or RNA-Seq. (A) Frequency of H3K27me3hi Tregs from the spleen or lung of Foxp3YFP-Cre and Kdm6bΔTreg mice (n = 6–11 mice per strain; a combination of 2 separate experiments). (B) Log2 FPKM of H3K27me3 signal across the entire genome of lung Tregs from naive and influenza virus–infected Foxp3YFP-Cre and Kdm6bΔTreg mice. Triplicates per condition. (C and D) H3K27me3 modification tracks in lung Tregs from naive and influenza virus–infected Foxp3YFP-Cre and Kdm6bΔTreg mice. Data from triplicates per condition were combined for analysis and presentation. (E and F) Volcano plots showing differential gene expression between pairwise conditions of sorted lung Tregs from either Foxp3YFP-Cre or Foxp3ΔKdmb6 at either (E) steady state (naive) or (F) day 15 after influenza (Flu) are shown. DEGs significantly (P < 0.01) upregulated (red) or downregulated (blue) are shown. Data from triplicates per condition were combined for analysis. (G) Gene-set enrichment analysis identified several Gene Ontology biological pathways in sorted Foxp3YFP-Cre or Foxp3ΔKdmb6 lung Tregs at day 15 after influenza infection. reg, regulation; proc, process. (H) Cross-comparison of RNA-Seq and H3K27me3 CUT&RUN results from lung Tregs. Red dots highlight differentially expressed transcripts showing increased expression and decreased H3K27me3 marks in Tregs from Foxp3YFP-Cre mice compared with Foxp3ΔKdmb6 mice.

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ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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