The role of methyl-CpG-binding domain protein-2 (MBD2) in colonic inflammation [series 2]

ABSTRACT: Mice deficient in MBD2 (Mbd2-/-) were treated with 2% dextran sulfate sodium or normal drinking water for 6 continuous days. A single cell suspension of colon lamina propria and epithelium was isolated, with monocytes (CD11b+ Ly6CHi, MHC-II+/-), macrophages (CD11b+ Ly6C-MHC-II+), cDC2s (CD11b- CD11c+ CD103+) and epithelial cells (CD45- EpCAM+) purified by FACS. Methyl-CpG-binding domain-2 (Mbd2) acts as an epigenetic regulator of gene expression, by linking DNA methylation to repressive chromatin structure. Although Mbd2 is widely expressed in gastrointestinal immune cells and is implicated in regulating intestinal cancer and anti-helminth responses, its role in controlling colitis has yet to be defined. Indeed, epigenetic control of gene expression in cells that regulate intestinal immunity is generally poorly understood, even though such mechanisms may explain the inability of standard genetic approaches to pinpoint the causes of conditions like inflammatory bowel disease. In this study we demonstrate a vital role for Mbd2 in regulating murine colonic inflammation. Mbd2-/- mice displayed dramatically worse pathology than wild type controls during dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) induced colitis, with increased inflammatory (IL-1β+) monocytes. Profiling of mRNA from innate immune and epithelial cell (EC) populations suggested that Mbd2 suppresses inflammation and pathology via control of innate-epithelial cell crosstalk and T cell recruitment. Consequently, restriction of Mbd2 deficiency to CD11c+ dendritic cells and macrophages, or to ECs, resulted in increased DSS colitis severity. Our identification of this dual role for Mbd2 in regulating the inflammatory capacity of both CD11c+ cells and ECs highlights how epigenetic control mechanisms may limit intestinal inflammatory responses.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE134281 | GEO | 2020/02/26

REPOSITORIES: GEO