The Epigenetic Regulator EZH2 Instructs CD4 T Cell Response to Acute Viral Infection via Coupling of Cell Expansion and Metabolic Fitness.

ABSTRACT: The protection of a majority of viral vaccines is mediated by CD4 T cell-dependent humoral immunity. The methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) dictates the differentiation of naive CD4 T cells into distinct effector T helper subsets at the onset of acute viral infection. However, whether and how EZH2 manipulates differentiated virus-specific CD4 T cell expansion remain to be elucidated. Here, we found that EZH2 is integral for virus-specific CD4 T cell expansion in a mouse model of acute viral infection. By a mechanism that involves fine-tuning the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, EZH2 participates in integrating metabolic pathways to support cell expansion. The genetic ablation of EZH2 leads to impaired cellular metabolism and, consequently, poor CD4 T cell

SUBMITTER: Li R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7925195 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature