Defining the AHR-regulated transcriptome in NK cells reveals gene expression programs relevant to development and function.

ABSTRACT: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that regulates cellular processes in cancer and immunity, including innate immune cell development and effector function. However, the transcriptional repertoire through which AHR mediates these effects remains largely unexplored. To elucidate the transcriptional elements directly regulated by AHR in natural killer (NK) cells, we performed RNA and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing on NK cells exposed to AHR agonist or antagonist. We show that mature peripheral blood NK cells lack AHR, but its expression is induced by Stat3 during interleukin-21-driven activation and proliferation, coincident with increased NCAM1 (CD56) expression resulting in a CD56bright phenotype. Compared with control conditions, NK ce

SUBMITTER: Trikha P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8759121 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature