Plasticity of DNA methylation in mouse T cell activation and differentiation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Circulating CD4+ T helper cells are activated through interactions with antigen presenting cells and undergo differentiation into specific T helper cell subsets depending on the type of antigen encountered. In addition, the relative composition of the circulating CD4+ T cell population changes as animals mature with an increased percentage of the population being memory/effector type cells.

Results

Here, we report on the highly plastic nature of DNA methylation at the genome-wide level as T cells undergo activation, differentiation and aging. Of particular note were the findings that DNA demethylation occurred rapidly following T cell activation and that all differentiated T cell populations displayed lower levels of global methylation than the non-differentiated

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3386888 | biostudies-literature | 2012 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature