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The Swi/Snf chromatin remodeling complex promotes Th17 differentiation by coordinating RORγt-driven epigenetic program

ABSTRACT: TH17 cells play a critical role in mucosal immunity and also in multiple autoimmune diseases. The differentiation of TH17 cells is dictated by a master transcription factor, RORγt; however, the mechanism by which RORγt controls target genes is poorly understood. Here we identify the Swi/Snf chromatin remodeling complex as an essential regulator of TH17 cell differentiation. Loss of the expression of SRG3/mBAF155, a core subunit of the Swi/Snf complex, results in a specific downregulation of RORγt target genes such as IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-23R. Importantly, the comparative transcriptional analysis reveals a high similarity between RORγt and the Swi/Snf complex in the control of TH17-related gene expression. Mechanistically, the Swi/Snf complex partners with RORγt and coordinates a variety of RORγt–mediated epigenetic modifications, including both permissive and repressive ones. These results provide a basis for the understanding of how a master transcription factor RORγt cooperates with the Swi/Snf complex to govern the Th17 cell differentiation.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE129132 | GEO | 2020/05/06

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:CD4+ T helper lymphocytes that express interleukin-17 (Th17 cells) have critical roles in mouse models of autoimmunity, and there is mounting evidence that they also influence inflammatory processes in humans. Genome-wide association studies in humans have linked genes involved in Th17 cell differentiation and function with susceptibility to Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis1-3. Thus, the pathway towards differentiation of Th17 cells and, perhaps, of related innate lymphoid cells with similar effector functions4, 5, is an attractive target for therapeutic applications. Mouse and human Th17 cells are distinguished by expression of the retinoic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor RORγt, which is required for induction of IL-17 transcription and for the manifestation of Th17-dependent autoimmune disease in mice6. By performing a chemical screen with an insect cell-based reporter system, we identified the cardiac glycoside digoxin as a specific inhibitor of RORγt transcriptional activity. Digoxin inhibited murine Th17 cell differentiation without affecting differentiation of other T cell lineages and was effective in delaying the onset and reducing the severity of autoimmune disease in mice. At high concentrations, digoxin is toxic for human cells, but non-toxic synthetic derivatives, 20,22-dihydrodigoxin-21,23-diol (Dig(dhd)) and digoxin-21-salicylidene (Dig(sal)), specifically inhibited induction of IL-17 in human CD4+ T cells. Using these small molecule compounds, we demonstrated that RORγt is imporant for the maintenance of IL-17 expression in mouse and human effector T cells. These data suggest that derivatives of digoxin can be used as chemical probes for development of RORγt-targeted therapeutic agents that attenuate inflammatory lymphocyte function and autoimmune disease. We performed gene expression profiling with total RNA samples isolated from DMSO- or digoxin-treated wildtype or RORγt-deficient cells cultured in Th17 conditions. Total RNA was extracted with TRIzol. RNA was labeled and hybridized to GeneChip Mouse Genome 430 2.0 arrays following the Affymetrix protocols. Data were analyzed in GeneSpring GX11.5.

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The Swi/Snf chromatin remodeling complex promotes Th17 differentiation by coordinating RORγt-driven epigenetic program

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