The NeST long ncRNA controls microbial susceptibility and epigenetic activation of the interferon-? locus.

ABSTRACT: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly appreciated as regulators of cell-specific gene expression. Here, an enhancer-like lncRNA termed NeST (nettoie Salmonella pas Theiler's [cleanup Salmonella not Theiler's]) is shown to be causal for all phenotypes conferred by murine viral susceptibility locus Tmevp3. This locus was defined by crosses between SJL/J and B10.S mice and contains several candidate genes, including NeST. The SJL/J-derived locus confers higher lncRNA expression, increased interferon-? (IFN-?) abundance in activated CD8(+) T cells, increased Theiler's virus persistence, and decreased Salmonella enterica pathogenesis. Transgenic expression of NeST lncRNA alone was sufficient to confer all phenotypes of the SJL/J locus. NeST RNA was found to bind WDR5, a component of the histone H3 lysine 4 methyltransferase complex, and to alter histone 3 methylation at the IFN-? locus. Thus, this lncRNA regulates epigenetic marking of IFN-?-encoding chromatin, expression of IFN-?, and susceptibility to a viral and a bacterial pathogen.

SUBMITTER: Gomez JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3577098 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature