1
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Zhu F, McMonigle RJ, Schroeder AR, Xia X, Figge D, Greer BD, González-Avalos E, Sialer DO, Wang YH, Chandler KM, Getzler AJ, Brown ER, Xiao C, Kutsch O, Harada Y, Pipkin ME, Hu H. Spatiotemporal resolution of germinal center Tfh cell differentiation and divergence from central memory CD4 + T cell fate. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3611. [PMID: 37330549 PMCID: PMC10276816 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39299-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells are essential for germinal center (GC) B cell responses. However, it is not clear which PD-1+CXCR5+Bcl6+CD4+ T cells will differentiate into PD-1hiCXCR5hiBcl6hi GC-Tfh cells and how GC-Tfh cell differentiation is regulated. Here, we report that the sustained Tigit expression in PD-1+CXCR5+CD4+ T cells marks the precursor Tfh (pre-Tfh) to GC-Tfh transition, whereas Tigit-PD-1+CXCR5+CD4+ T cells upregulate IL-7Rα to become CXCR5+CD4+ T memory cells with or without CCR7. We demonstrate that pre-Tfh cells undergo substantial further differentiation at the transcriptome and chromatin accessibility levels to become GC-Tfh cells. The transcription factor c-Maf appears critical in governing the pre-Tfh to GC-Tfh transition, and we identify Plekho1 as a stage-specific downstream factor regulating the GC-Tfh competitive fitness. In summary, our work identifies an important marker and regulatory mechanism of PD-1+CXCR5+CD4+ T cells during their developmental choice between memory T cell fate and GC-Tfh cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangming Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Ryan J McMonigle
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Andrew R Schroeder
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Xianyou Xia
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - David Figge
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Braxton D Greer
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Edahí González-Avalos
- Division of Signaling and Gene Expression, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Diego O Sialer
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Yin-Hu Wang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Kelly M Chandler
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Adam J Getzler
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Emily R Brown
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Changchun Xiao
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Olaf Kutsch
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Yohsuke Harada
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo, University of Science, Chiba, 278-8510, Japan
| | - Matthew E Pipkin
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, 33458, USA
| | - Hui Hu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
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2
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Getzler AJ, Frederick MA, Milner JJ, Venables T, Diao H, Toma C, Nagaraja SD, Albao DS, Bélanger S, Tsuda SM, Kim J, Crotty S, Goldrath AW, Pipkin ME. Mll1 pioneers histone H3K4me3 deposition and promotes formation of CD8 + T stem cell memory. bioRxiv 2023:2023.01.18.524461. [PMID: 37090503 PMCID: PMC10120707 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.18.524461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
CD8 + T cells with stem cell-like properties (T SCM ) sustain adaptive immunity to intracellular pathogens and tumors. However, the developmental origins and chromatin regulatory factors (CRFs) that establish their differentiation are unclear. Using an RNA interference screen of all CRFs we discovered the histone methylase Mll1 was required during T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation for development of a T SCM precursor state and mature memory (T MEM ) cells, but not short-lived or transitory effector cell-like states, in response to viral infections and tumors. Mll1 was essential for widespread de novo deposition of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) upon TCR stimulation, which accounted for 70% of all activation-induced sites in mature T MEM cells. Mll1 promoted both H3K4me3 deposition and reduced TCR-induced Pol II pausing at genes whose single-cell transcriptional dynamics explained trajectories into nascent T SCM precursor states during viral infection. Our results suggest Mll1-dependent control of Pol II elongation and H3K4me3 establishes and maintains differentiation of CD8 + T SCM cell states.
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3
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Li C, Mori LP, Lyu S, Bronson R, Getzler AJ, Pipkin ME, Valente ST. The chaperone protein p32 stabilizes HIV-1 Tat and strengthens the p-TEFb/RNAPII/TAR complex promoting HIV transcription elongation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2217476120. [PMID: 36584296 PMCID: PMC9910500 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2217476120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV gene expression is modulated by the combinatorial activity of the HIV transcriptional activator, Tat, host transcription factors, and chromatin remodeling complexes. To identify host factors regulating HIV transcription, we used specific single-guide RNAs and endonuclease-deficient Cas9 to perform chromatin affinity purification of the integrated HIV promoter followed by mass spectrometry. The scaffold protein, p32, also called ASF/SF2 splicing factor-associated protein, was identified among the top enriched factors present in actively transcribing HIV promoters but absent in silenced ones. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis confirmed the presence of p32 on active HIV promoters and its enhanced recruitment by Tat. HIV uses Tat to efficiently recruit positive transcription elongation factor b (p-TEFb) (CDK9/CCNT1) to TAR, an RNA secondary structure that forms from the first 59 bp of HIV transcripts, to enhance RNAPII transcriptional elongation. The RNA interference of p32 significantly reduced HIV transcription in primary CD4+T cells and in HIV chronically infected cells, independently of either HIV splicing or p32 anti-splicing activity. Conversely, overexpression of p32 specifically increased Tat-dependent HIV transcription. p32 was found to directly interact with Tat's basic domain enhancing Tat stability and half-life. Conversely, p32 associates with Tat via N- and C-terminal domains. Likely due its scaffold properties, p32 also promoted Tat association with TAR, p-TEFb, and RNAPII enhancing Tat-dependent HIV transcription. In sum, we identified p32 as a host factor that interacts with and stabilizes Tat protein, promotes Tat-dependent transcriptional regulation, and may be explored for HIV-targeted transcriptional inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Li
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Florida Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Luisa P. Mori
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Florida Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL33458
- The Skaggs Graduate School, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Shuang Lyu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Florida Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Ronald Bronson
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Florida Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Adam J. Getzler
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Florida Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL33458
- The Skaggs Graduate School, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Matthew E. Pipkin
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Florida Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL33458
- The Skaggs Graduate School, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
| | - Susana T. Valente
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Florida Scripps Biomedical Research, Jupiter, FL33458
- The Skaggs Graduate School, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL33458
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4
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Bélanger S, Haupt S, Freeman BL, Getzler AJ, Diao H, Pipkin ME, Crotty S. The Transcription Factor YY-1 Is an Essential Regulator of T Follicular Helper Cell Differentiation. J Immunol 2022; 209:1566-1573. [PMID: 36096645 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2101176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
T follicular helper (TFH) cells are a specialized subset of CD4 T cells that deliver critical help signals to B cells for the production of high-affinity Abs. Understanding the genetic program regulating TFH differentiation is critical if one wants to manipulate TFH cells during vaccination. A large number of transcription factor (TFs) involved in the regulation of TFH differentiation have been characterized. However, there are likely additional unknown TFs required for this process. To identify new TFs, we screened a large short hairpin RNA library targeting 353 TFs in mice using an in vivo RNA interference screen. Yin Yang 1 (YY-1) was identified as a novel positive regulator of TFH differentiation. Ablation of YY-1 severely impaired TFH differentiation following acute viral infection and protein immunization. We found that the zinc fingers of YY-1 are critical to support TFH differentiation. Thus, we discovered a novel TF involved in the regulation of TFH cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Bélanger
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA
| | - Sonya Haupt
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Brian L Freeman
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA
| | - Adam J Getzler
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Huitian Diao
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Matthew E Pipkin
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Shane Crotty
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA; and
- Center for HIV/AIDS Vaccine Immunology and Immunogen Discovery, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA
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5
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Milner JJ, Toma C, Quon S, Omilusik K, Scharping NE, Dey A, Reina-Campos M, Nguyen H, Getzler AJ, Diao H, Yu B, Delpoux A, Yoshida TM, Li D, Qi J, Vincek A, Hedrick SM, Egawa T, Zhou MM, Crotty S, Ozato K, Pipkin ME, Goldrath AW. Bromodomain protein BRD4 directs and sustains CD8 T cell differentiation during infection. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20202512. [PMID: 34037670 PMCID: PMC8160575 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20202512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to infection, pathogen-specific CD8 T cells differentiate into functionally diverse effector and memory T cell populations critical for resolving disease and providing durable immunity. Through small-molecule inhibition, RNAi studies, and induced genetic deletion, we reveal an essential role for the chromatin modifier and BET family member BRD4 in supporting the differentiation and maintenance of terminally fated effector CD8 T cells during infection. BRD4 bound diverse regulatory regions critical to effector T cell differentiation and controlled transcriptional activity of terminal effector-specific super-enhancers in vivo. Consequentially, induced deletion of Brd4 or small molecule-mediated BET inhibition impaired maintenance of a terminal effector T cell phenotype. BRD4 was also required for terminal differentiation of CD8 T cells in the tumor microenvironment in murine models, which we show has implications for immunotherapies. Taken together, these data reveal an unappreciated requirement for BRD4 in coordinating activity of cis regulatory elements to control CD8 T cell fate and lineage stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Justin Milner
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Clara Toma
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Sara Quon
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Kyla Omilusik
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Nicole E. Scharping
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Anup Dey
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Miguel Reina-Campos
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Hongtuyet Nguyen
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Adam J. Getzler
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Huitian Diao
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Bingfei Yu
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Arnaud Delpoux
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Tomomi M. Yoshida
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Deyao Li
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jun Qi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Adam Vincek
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Stephen M. Hedrick
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Takeshi Egawa
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Ming-Ming Zhou
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Shane Crotty
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Keiko Ozato
- Division of Developmental Biology, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Matthew E. Pipkin
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Ananda W. Goldrath
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
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6
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Milner J, Toma C, Quon S, Omilusik K, Scharping NE, Dey A, Reina-Campus M, Nguyen H, Getzler AJ, Diao H, Yu B, Delpoux A, Yoshida TM, Li D, Qi J, Vincek A, Hedrick SM, Egawa T, Zhou MM, Crotty S, Ozato K, Pipkin ME, Goldrath AW. Bromodomain protein BRD4 directs CD8 T cell differentiation during infection and cancer. The Journal of Immunology 2021. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.206.supp.67.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
In response to infection and malignancy, antigen-specific CD8 T cells differentiate into functionally diverse populations that are critical for resolving disease and providing durable immunity. Here, we utilized an in vivo RNAi screening strategy to identify transcriptional and epigenetic regulators controlling CD8 T cell fate. Through small-molecule inhibition, RNAi studies, and induced genetic deletion, we revealed an essential role for the chromatin modifier and BET family member BRD4 in supporting T cell differentiation during infection and cancer. BRD4 was found to bind diverse regulatory regions critical to effector T cell differentiation and was essential for transcriptional activity of terminal effector-specific super-enhancers in vivo. Consequentially, induced deletion or chemical inhibition of BRD4 resulted in impaired maintenance of a terminal effector phenotype. In preclinical models of cancer, BRD4 was also required for formation of a terminally differentiated CD8 T cell state in the tumor microenvironment, which we show holds implications for immunotherapies. Tailored inhibition of BRD4 enhanced immune checkpoint blockade efficacy; however, complete ablation of BRD4 activity blunted T cell effector function and adoptive cell therapy efficacy. Taken together, these data reveal an unappreciated requirement for BRD4 in coordinating activity of cis-regulatory elements to control CD8 T cell fate and stability of lineage identity, and provide insight for understanding the efficacy and full therapeutic potential of BET inhibition and T cell immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Milner
- 1Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Ctr., Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Deyao Li
- 5Dana Farber Cancer Inst., Harvard Med. Sch
| | - Jun Qi
- 5Dana Farber Cancer Inst., Harvard Med. Sch
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7
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Chen ML, Sun A, Cao W, Eliason A, Mendez KM, Getzler AJ, Tsuda S, Diao H, Mukori C, Bruno NE, Kim SY, Pipkin ME, Koralov SB, Sundrud MS. Physiological expression and function of the MDR1 transporter in cytotoxic T lymphocytes. J Exp Med 2020; 217:151682. [PMID: 32302378 PMCID: PMC7201929 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20191388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance-1 (MDR1) acts as a chemotherapeutic drug efflux pump in tumor cells, although its physiological functions remain enigmatic. Using a recently developed MDR1-knockin reporter allele (Abcb1aAME), we found that constitutive MDR1 expression among hematopoietic cells was observed in cytolytic lymphocytes—including CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer cells—and regulated by Runt-related (Runx) transcription factors. Whereas MDR1 was dispensable for naive CD8+ T cell development, it was required for both the normal accumulation of effector CTLs following acute viral infection and the protective function of memory CTLs following challenge with an intracellular bacterium. MDR1 acted early after naive CD8+ T cell activation to suppress oxidative stress, enforce survival, and safeguard mitochondrial function in nascent CTLs. These data highlight an important endogenous function of MDR1 in cell-mediated immune responses and suggest that ongoing efforts to intentionally inhibit MDR1 in cancer patients could be counterproductive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Lan Chen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Amy Sun
- Department of Pathology, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Amber Eliason
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Kayla M Mendez
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Adam J Getzler
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Shanel Tsuda
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Huitian Diao
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Clever Mukori
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Nelson E Bruno
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Sang Yong Kim
- Rodent Genetic Engineering Core, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Matthew E Pipkin
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
| | - Sergei B Koralov
- Department of Pathology, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Mark S Sundrud
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
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8
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Tsuda SM, Diao H, Getzler AJ, Milner JJ, Goldrath A, Crotty S, Pipkin ME. Identifying key transcriptional regulators that establish T cell memory during viral infection. The Journal of Immunology 2020. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.204.supp.77.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
During infections, naive CD8 T cells differentiate into terminal effector cells (TE) that are relatively short-lived, and memory precursor (MP) cells that give rise to long-lived memory CD8 T cells, but the transcriptional control of this process is still unclear. In naïve CD8 T cells, cis-regulatory regions that become accessible in chromatin during the first 24 hours of TCR stimulation and that remain accessible in mature memory T cell subsets are highly enriched with motifs encoding binding sites for the ETS- and bZIP-families of transcription factors (TFs), many of which also overlap Runx-TF binding sites. The ETS and bZIP TF families are encoded by 88 genes, and are differentially expressed between naïve, early effector, and memory CD8 T cell subsets. To interrogate their requirements functionally, we applied an in vivo pooled RNA interference screen using short hairpin RNAs in microRNA contexts (shRNAmirs) to suppress individually all TFs from both families in CD8 T cells responding to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection. In addition, we focused on Ets1, the most highly expressed ETS TF in naïve, effector and memory cell subsets. Ets1 suppression with shRNAmirs impaired overall effector CD8 T cell numbers in vivo, and increased the frequency of TE-like cells at early times after LCMV infection, which resulted in reduced long-lived effector cells and an increased fraction of altered central memory-like cells at later time points. Enforced Runx3 expression in Ets1-suppressed cells partially restored normal MP cell formation at early times. These results suggest that Ets1 and Runx3 are each necessary for the normal differentiation of MP cells, and could function cooperatively to program their differentiation.
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9
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Belanger S, Getzler AJ, Fung K, Greenbaum J, Pipkin ME, Crotty S. Identification of MLL1 as a novel regulator of Tfh cell differentiation. The Journal of Immunology 2020. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.204.supp.76.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Transcription factors controlling T follicular helper (Tfh) cell differentiation have been extensively studied in recent years. However, there is limited knowledge of the different chromatin regulators involved in the control of Tfh differentiation. Most transcription factors control gene expression with the help of chromatin regulators, which modify chromatin structure to regulate gene expression. We hypothesize that chromatin modifying enzymes are involved in the control of Tfh differentiation. To uncover novel chromatin modifying enzymes essential for Tfh differentiation, we screened a shRNA library targeting all known chromatin regulators using our in vivo RNAi screen. Utilizing this screen, we identified the histone methyltransferase MLL1 as a positive regulator of Tfh differentiation after viral infection.
We found MLL1 to be functionally important for Tfh differentiation. Knockdown of MLL1 utilizing multiple shRNAs impaired Tfh differentiation during LCMV infection. The requirement for MLL1 for proper Tfh differentiation after LCMV infection was further confirmed using a CRISPR/Cas9 approach. Additionally, ablation of MLL1 expression selectively impaired production of IL-21 by Tfh cells. To further understand the role of MLL1 in regulating the Tfh differentiation network, we performed RNA-Seq of MLL1-deficient Tfh as well as MLL1-sufficient Tfh. Analysis revealed that the expression of several genes critical for the regulation of Tfh differentiation is dysregulated in the absence of MLL1. Specific examples will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kai Fung
- 1La Jolla Institute for Immunology
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10
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Wang D, Diao H, Getzler AJ, Rogal W, Frederick MA, Milner J, Yu B, Crotty S, Goldrath AW, Pipkin ME. The Transcription Factor Runx3 Establishes Chromatin Accessibility of cis-Regulatory Landscapes that Drive Memory Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Formation. Immunity 2019; 48:659-674.e6. [PMID: 29669249 PMCID: PMC6750808 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation of naive CD8+ T cells initiates reprogramming of cis-regulatory landscapes that specify effector and memory cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) differentiation. We mapped regions of hyper-accessible chromatin in naive cells during TCR stimulation and discovered that the transcription factor (TF) Runx3 promoted accessibility to memory CTL-specific cis-regulatory regions before the first cell division and was essential for memory CTL differentiation. Runx3 was specifically required for accessibility to regions highly enriched with IRF, bZIP and Prdm1-like TF motifs, upregulation of TFs Irf4 and Blimp1, and activation of fundamental CTL attributes in early effector and memory precursor cells. Runx3 ensured that nascent CTLs differentiated into memory CTLs by preventing high expression of the TF T-bet, slowing effector cell proliferation, and repressing terminal CTL differentiation. Runx3 overexpression enhanced memory CTL differentiation during iterative infections. Thus, Runx3 governs chromatin accessibility during TCR stimulation and enforces the memory CTL developmental program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Wang
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Huitian Diao
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Adam J Getzler
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Walter Rogal
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Megan A Frederick
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA
| | - Justin Milner
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Bingfei Yu
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Shane Crotty
- Division of Vaccine Discovery, The La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, UCSD School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ananda W Goldrath
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Matthew E Pipkin
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL, USA.
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