Unknown,Transcriptomics,Genomics,Proteomics

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DNA methylation differences between human regulatory T cells and conventional T cells

ABSTRACT: Regulatory T cells (Treg) prevent the emergence of autoimmune disease. Prototypic natural Treg (nTreg) are programmed by Forkhead-box P3 (FOXP3) and can be reliably identified by demethylation at the FOXP3 locus. To explore the nTreg methylation landscape we performed genome-wide methylation studies on human naïve resting nTreg (rTreg) and conventional naïve CD4+ T cells (Naïve). We detected 2,315 differentially methylated CpGs between these two cell types, many of which clustered into 127 regions of differential methylation (RDMs). T cell activation induced changes in 466 individual CpGs and 18 RDMs in naïve CD4+ T cells, but did not alter DNA methylation in rTreg. Expression of mRNA for TIGIT, an immune suppressive receptor demethylated in rTreg, was upregulated in nTreg and reduced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of individuals at risk for autoimmune (type 1) diabetes. Gene-set testing of the 127 RDMs revealed enrichment of common Treg signature genes, FOXP3 bound genes and genes directly upregulated by FOXP3, which was primarily driven by the subset of demethylated RDMs. A putative Forkhead-binding motif overrepresented in promoter-associated RDMs suggests methylation regulates gene expression by influencing FOXP3 binding. Our findings provide new insights into epigenetic regulation of human nTreg and the potential to exploit differential methylation as an immune biomarker in human diseases. Naïve and rTreg cells were sorted from buffy coats of 3 healthy male donors (M28, 29, 30) and then activated for 6 days with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies, supplemented with IL-2 at day 4. DNA was harvested and bisulfite converted for methylation analysis on illumina HM450 array from 2-3 biological replicates of each cell type: rTreg (M28, M30), naïve (M28, M29, M30), Act-naïve (M28, M29, M30) and Act-rTreg (M29, M30).

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

SUBMITTER: Jovana Maksimovic

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-49667 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress

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Project description:The epigenetic regulation of transcription factor genes is critical for T cell lineage specification. A specific methylation pattern within a conserved region of the lineage specifying transcription factor gene FOXP3, the Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR), is restricted to regulatory T (Treg) cells and required for stable expression of FOXP3 and suppressive function. We analyzed the impact of hypomethylating agents 5-Aza-2`-deoxycytidine and Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on human CD4+CD25- T for generating Treg cell specific DNA methylation pattern within FOXP3-TSDR and inducing functional Treg cells. Gene expression, including lineage specifying transcription factors of the major T cell lineages and their leading cytokines, functional properties and global transcriptome changes were analyzed. 5-Aza-2`-deoxycytidine induced FOXP3-TSDR methylation and expression of Treg cell specific genes FOXP3 and LRRC32. Proliferation of 5-Aza-2Â´deoxycytidine treated cells was reduced, but they did not show suppressive function. Hypomethylation was not restricted to FOXP3-TSDR and expression of master transcription factors and leading cytokines of Th1 and Th17 cells were induced. EGCG induced global DNA hypomethylation to a lower degree than 5-Aza-2Â´deoxycitidine, but no relevant hypomethylation within FOXP3-TSDR or expression of Treg cell specific genes. Both DNMT inhibitors did not induce full functional human Treg cells. Although 5-Aza-2`-deoxycytidine treated cells phenotypically appeared to be Treg cells, they did not suppress proliferation of responder cells, which is an essential capability to be used in Treg cell transfer therapy. In this study we analyze the potency of the two hypomethylating agents 5-Aza-2`-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC) and Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) for in vitro induction of functional Treg cell cells through generation of a specific methylation pattern within FOXP3-TSDR. We analyzed the expression of Treg cell specific genes and for their functional properties from CD4+CD25- T cells. 5-Aza-dC is a derivative of 5-Azacytidine. Both substances are inhibitors of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and used for therapy of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukaemia. In these patients, 5-Azacytidine has been reported to augment regulatory T cell expansion in blood. EGCG is the most abundant catechin of green tea and has been reported to have cardio protective, anti-cancer, anti-infective properties and protective effects on autoimmune diseases. EGCG has also been described as a potent inhibitor of DNMTs and to induce Foxp3 in Jurkat T cell line.

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DNA methylation differences between human regulatory T cells and conventional T cells

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