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Cook KD, Shpargel KB, Starmer J, Whitfield-Larry F, Conley B, Allard DE, Rager JE, Fry RC, Davenport ML, Magnuson T, Whitmire JK, Su MA. T Follicular Helper Cell-Dependent Clearance of a Persistent Virus Infection Requires T Cell Expression of the Histone Demethylase UTX. Immunity 2015; 43:703-14. [PMID: 26431949 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Revised: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic changes, including histone methylation, control T cell differentiation and memory formation, though the enzymes that mediate these processes are not clear. We show that UTX, a histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) demethylase, supports T follicular helper (Tfh) cell responses that are essential for B cell antibody generation and the resolution of chronic viral infections. Mice with a T cell-specific UTX deletion had fewer Tfh cells, reduced germinal center responses, lacked virus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), and were unable to resolve chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infections. UTX-deficient T cells showed decreased expression of interleukin-6 receptor-α and other Tfh cell-related genes that were associated with increased H3K27 methylation. Additionally, Turner Syndrome subjects, who are predisposed to chronic ear infections, had reduced UTX expression in immune cells and decreased circulating CD4(+) CXCR5(+) T cell frequency. Thus, we identify a critical link between UTX in T cells and immunity to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Cook
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Karl B Shpargel
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Joshua Starmer
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Fatima Whitfield-Larry
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Bridget Conley
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Denise E Allard
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Julia E Rager
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Marsha L Davenport
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Terry Magnuson
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jason K Whitmire
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | - Maureen A Su
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 120 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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Cook K, Shpargel K, Starmer J, Whitfield-Larry F, Conley B, Allard D, Magnuson T, Su M, Whitmire J. T cell expression of the histone demethylase UTX promotes clearance of a persistent virus infection by modulating Tfh cell differentiation (VIR1P.1155). The Journal of Immunology 2015. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.194.supp.74.32] [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
T cell differentiation and memory formation are impacted by epigenetic changes that modulate nucleosome structure to regulate transcription factor accessibility. The enzymes and specific targets that mediate these processes within T cells are not clear. We show that UTX, a histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) demethylase, promotes the formation of the CD4+ T follicular helper cell (Tfh) phenotype during a chronic virus infection. Mice with T cell specific UTX deletion had defects in Tfh cell generation and function that resulted in reduced germinal center responses and virus-specific immunoglobulin production. Furthermore, clearance of the chronic virus infection was specifically dependent on T cell expression of UTX. H3K27me3-ChIP-sequencing and RNA expression analysis revealed a subset of genes that were specifically regulated by UTX via H3K27 demethylation. This group included IL-6Ra, a known regulator of Tfh responses, as well as other genes, which are potentially novel Tfh effector genes. Thus, we identify a critical link between UTX-dependent H3K27 demethylase activity in T cells and immunity to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Cook
- 1Genetics, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Karl Shpargel
- 1Genetics, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Joshua Starmer
- 1Genetics, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | | | - Bridget Conley
- 2Pediatrics, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Denise Allard
- 3Microbiology and Immunology, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Terry Magnuson
- 1Genetics, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Maureen Su
- 2Pediatrics, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- 3Microbiology and Immunology, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Jason Whitmire
- 1Genetics, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
- 3Microbiology and Immunology, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
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Whitfield-Larry F, Young EF, Talmage G, Fudge E, Azam A, Patel S, Largay J, Byrd W, Buse J, Calikoglu AS, Shultz LD, Frelinger JA. HLA-A2-matched peripheral blood mononuclear cells from type 1 diabetic patients, but not nondiabetic donors, transfer insulitis to NOD-scid/γc(null)/HLA-A2 transgenic mice concurrent with the expansion of islet-specific CD8+ T cells. Diabetes 2011; 60:1726-33. [PMID: 21521873 PMCID: PMC3114397 DOI: 10.2337/db10-1287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing β-cells. NOD mice provide a useful tool for understanding disease pathogenesis and progression. Although much has been learned from studies with NOD mice, increased understanding of human type 1 diabetes can be gained by evaluating the pathogenic potential of human diabetogenic effector cells in vivo. Therefore, our objective in this study was to develop a small-animal model using human effector cells to study type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We adoptively transferred HLA-A2-matched peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from type 1 diabetic patients and nondiabetic control subjects into transgenic NOD-scid/γc(null)/HLA-A*0201 (NOD-scid/γc(null)/A2) mice. At various times after adoptive transfer, we determined the ability of these mice to support the survival and proliferation of the human lymphoid cells. Human lymphocytes were isolated and assessed from the blood, spleen, pancreatic lymph node and islets of NOD-scid/γc(null)/A2 mice after transfer. RESULTS Human T and B cells proliferate and survive for at least 6 weeks and were recovered from the blood, spleen, draining pancreatic lymph node, and most importantly, islets of NOD-scid/γc(null)/A2 mice. Lymphocytes from type 1 diabetic patients preferentially infiltrate the islets of NOD-scid/γc(null)/A2 mice. In contrast, PBMCs from nondiabetic HLA-A2-matched donors showed significantly less islet infiltration. Moreover, in mice that received PBMCs from type 1 diabetic patients, we identified epitope-specific CD8(+) T cells among the islet infiltrates. CONCLUSIONS We show that insulitis is transferred to NOD-scid/γc(null)/A2 mice that received HLA-A2-matched PBMCs from type 1 diabetic patients. In addition, many of the infiltrating CD8(+) T cells are epitope-specific and produce interferon-γ after in vitro peptide stimulation. This indicates that NOD-scid/γc(null)/A2 mice transferred with HLA-A2-matched PBMCs from type 1 diabetic patients may serve as a useful tool for studying epitope-specific T-cell-mediated responses in patients with type 1 diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Whitfield-Larry
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill North Carolina
- Corresponding author: Fatima Whitfield-Larry,
| | - Ellen F. Young
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill North Carolina
| | - Garrick Talmage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill North Carolina
| | - Elizabeth Fudge
- Division of Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Anita Azam
- Division of Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Shipra Patel
- Division of Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Joseph Largay
- Division of Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Warren Byrd
- Division of Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - John Buse
- Division of Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Ali S. Calikoglu
- Division of Endocrinology, Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | - Jeffrey A. Frelinger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill North Carolina
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