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Epigenetic initiation of the Th17 differentiation programme is promoted by Cxxc finger protein 1

ABSTRACT: IL-6/STAT3 signalling is known to initiate the Th17 differentiation programme, but the upstream regulatory mechanisms remain minimally explored. Here, we show that Cxxc finger protein 1 (Cxxc1) promoted the generation and stability of Th17 cells as an epigenetic regulator and prevented their differentiation into Treg cells. Mice with a T cell-specific deletion of Cxxc1 were protected from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and were more susceptible to Citrobacter rodentium infection. Cxxc1-deficient T cells acquired a Treg cell-biased programme that dominantly suppressed Th17 cell generation via IL-6Rα production. Cxxc1 deficiency decreased IL-6Rα expression and impeded IL-6/STAT3 signalling, whereas the overexpression of IL-6Rα could reverse the defects seen in Cxxc1-deficient Th17 cells in vitro and in vivo. Genome-wide occupancy analysis revealed that Cxxc1 bound to Il6rα gene loci in the Th17 programme by maintaining the appropriate H3K4me3 modification of its promoter. Therefore, these data highlight that Cxxc1 as a key regulator governs the balance between Th17 and Treg cells by controlling the expression of IL-6Rα, which subsequently affects IL-6/STAT3 signalling and has a direct impact on Th17-related autoimmune diseases.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE132208 | GEO | 2020/04/10

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Mechanisms by which regulatory T (Treg) cells fail to control inflammation in asthma remain poorly understood. We show that a severe asthma-associated polymorphism in the interleukin-4 receptor alpha chain (IL-4RÎ±-R576) biases induced Treg (iTreg) cells towards a T helper 17 (TH17) cell fate. This skewing reflects the recruitment by IL-4RÎ±-R576 of the adaptor protein growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2), which drives IL-17 expression by an extracellular signal-regulated kinase-, IL-6- and STAT3-dependent mechanism. We showed that the IL-4RÎ±-R576 mutation elicits TH17 airway responses in vivo, in a house dust mite (HDM)- or ovalbumin (OVA)-driven model of airway inflammation in the mice carry the IL-4RÎ±-R576 mutation (Il4raR576 mice). Treg cell-specific deletion of genes encoding IL-6RÎ± or the master TH17 cell regulator Retinoid-related Orphan Receptor Î³t (RORÎ³t), but not IL-4 and IL-13, protected mice against exacerbated airway inflammation induced by IL-4RÎ±--576. Analysis of lung tissue Treg cells revealed that the expression of IL-17 and the TH17 cell-associated chemokine receptor CCR6 was largely overlapping and highly enriched in Treg and conventional T (Tconv) cells of allergen-treated Il4raR576 mice. To further characterize the subset of IL-17 producing Foxp3+ Treg in the lung of OVA-treated mice we utilized CCR6 as a marker of Treg cells committed towards the TH17 cell lineage to examine their functional, epigenetic and transcriptional profiles. CCR6+Foxp3EGFP+ Treg cells isolated from OVA-sensitized and challenged Il4raR576 mice, by FACS (Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting) exhibited decreased methylation of the Foxp3 CNS2 locus comparing to CCR6âFoxp3EGFP+ Treg cells from same animals, indicative of decreased stability. They also exhibited profoundly decreased suppressive function as compared to CCR6â WT and CCR6â Il4raR576 counterparts. Transcriptional profiling of CCR6+Foxp3EGFP+ Treg cells revealed increased relative expression in CCR6+ Il4raR576 Treg cells of genes associated with a TH17 cell signature, including Rorc, Ccr6, Il23r, Il17a, Il17f, Il1r1, Nr1d1, Cstl, and Ahr comparing to CCR6âFoxp3EGFP+ Treg cells from same animals. Three CCR6+Foxp3EGFP+ Il4raR576 replicates and four CCR6âFoxp3EGFP+ Il4raR576 Treg replicates (controls) were sampled

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Epigenetic initiation of the Th17 differentiation programme is promoted by Cxxc finger protein 1

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