Differentially methylated alleles in a distinct region of the human interleukin-1alpha promoter are associated with allele-specific expression of IL-1alpha in CD4+ T cells.

ABSTRACT: Cytokine secretion profiles of activated T cells are critical for maintaining the immunologic balance between protection and tolerance. In mice, several cytokines have been reported to exhibit monoallelic expression. Previously, we found that the human interleukin-1 alpha (IL1A) gene exhibits a stable allele-specific expression pattern in CD4+ T-cell clones. We investigated whether DNA methylation is involved in the allele-specific expression of IL-1alpha. Here, we show that differential methylation of CpGs in the proximal promoter region is associated with allele-specific expression of IL-1alpha in CD4+ T cells. The differential methylation pattern is already observed in naive T cells. In keratinocytes, which constitutively produce IL-1alpha, the proximal promoter is hypomethylated. CpGs

SUBMITTER: van Rietschoten JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1895553 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature