Histone demethylases UTX and JMJD3 are required for NKT cell development in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Natural killer (NK)T cells and conventional T cells share phenotypic characteristic however they differ in transcription factor requirements and functional properties. The role of histone modifying enzymes in conventional T cell development has been extensively studied, little is known about the function of enzymes regulating histone methylation in NKT cells.

Results

We show that conditional deletion of histone demethylases UTX and JMJD3 by CD4-Cre leads to near complete loss of liver NKT cells, while conventional T cells are less affected. Loss of NKT cells is cell intrinsic and not due to an insufficient selection environment. The absence of NKT cells in UTX/JMJD3-deficient mice protects mice from concanavalin A-induced liver injury, a model of NKT-mediated hepa

SUBMITTER: Northrup D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5436453 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature