Project description:T cell anergy is one of the mechanisms contributing to peripheral tolerance, particularly in the context of progressively growing tumors and in tolerogenic treatments promoting allograft acceptance. We recently reported that early growth response gene 2 (Egr2) is a critical transcription factor for the induction of anergy in vitro and in vivo, which was identified based on its ability to regulate the expression of inhibitory signaling molecules diacylglycerol kinase (DGK)-a and -z. We reasoned that other transcriptional targets of Egr2 might encode additional factors important for T cell anergy and immune regulation. Thus, we conducted two sets of genome-wide screens: gene expression profiling of wild type versus Egr2-deleted T cells treated under anergizing conditions, and a ChIP-Seq analysis to identify genes that bind Egr2 in anergic cells. Merging of these data sets revealed 49 targets that are directly regulated by Egr2. Among these are inhibitory signaling molecules previously reported to contribute to T cell anergy, but unexpectedly, also cell surface molecules and secreted factors, including lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (Lag3), Class-I-MHC-restricted T cell associated molecule (Crtam), Semaphorin 7A (Sema7A), and chemokine CCL1. These observations suggest that anergic T cells might not simply be functionally inert, and may have additional functional properties oriented towards other cellular components of the immune system. T cell-specific Egr2 deletion was mediated by use of a Cre-expressing adenovirus and a CAR Tg x Egr2flox/flox mouse in which CAR is expressed exclusively in the T cell compartment from a Lck promoter/CD2 enhancer cassette. OVA-specific Th1 cell clones were generated from CAR Tg x Egr2flox/flox mice. CAR Tg x Egr2flox/flox Th1 T cells were infected with an empty (EV) or a Cre-expressing adenovirus. Upon confirmation of Egr2 deletion by immunoblot, the T cells were left untreated (Control) or anergized (Anergic) by immobilized anti-CD3 for 16 hours, and microarray was conducted after 1 day of rest in culture medium. The microarray analysis was performed three times using three sets of independently manipulated samples
Project description:We report the application of sequencing technology for mapping the EGR2 transcriptional program in T cell anergy Examination of Egr2 genomic binding sites in T cells following overnight treatment with immobilized anti-CD3 mAb (1ug/ml)
Project description:T cell anergy is one of the mechanisms contributing to peripheral tolerance, particularly in the context of progressively growing tumors and in tolerogenic treatments promoting allograft acceptance. We recently reported that early growth response gene 2 (Egr2) is a critical transcription factor for the induction of anergy in vitro and in vivo, which was identified based on its ability to regulate the expression of inhibitory signaling molecules diacylglycerol kinase (DGK)-a and -z. We reasoned that other transcriptional targets of Egr2 might encode additional factors important for T cell anergy and immune regulation. Thus, we conducted two sets of genome-wide screens: gene expression profiling of wild type versus Egr2-deleted T cells treated under anergizing conditions, and a ChIP-Seq analysis to identify genes that bind Egr2 in anergic cells. Merging of these data sets revealed 49 targets that are directly regulated by Egr2. Among these are inhibitory signaling molecules previously reported to contribute to T cell anergy, but unexpectedly, also cell surface molecules and secreted factors, including lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (Lag3), Class-I-MHC-restricted T cell associated molecule (Crtam), Semaphorin 7A (Sema7A), and chemokine CCL1. These observations suggest that anergic T cells might not simply be functionally inert, and may have additional functional properties oriented towards other cellular components of the immune system.
Project description:The alveolar macrophages (AMs) as a component of the innate immunity of the lung play important role in the elimination of inhaled microbes and harmful agents. The transcription factor EGR2 is a known marker transcription factor of AMs but its exact epigenetic and transcriptomic effects have not been examined. In our study, we performed ATAC-seq and RNA-seq in WT and EGR2 deficient alveolar macrophages to describe the mechanism of action and to predict potential direct target genes of EGR2. Clec7a is one of the targets of this transcription factor which is essential in the zymosan-induced inflammatory response. We further analyzed this process by applying in vivo mouse model. Our findings demonstrate that EGR2 is a key transcriptional activator, responsible for the intact protective program against different pathogens, especially fungi in AMs.
Project description:The alveolar macrophages (AMs) as a component of the innate immunity of the lung play important role in the elimination of inhaled microbes and harmful agents. The transcription factor EGR2 is a known marker transcription factor of AMs but its exact epigenetic and transcriptomic effects have not been examined. In our study, we performed ATAC-seq, RNA-seq, and CUT&RUN in WT and EGR2 deficient alveolar macrophages to describe the mechanism of action and to predict potential direct target genes of EGR2. Clec7a is one of the targets of this transcription factor which is essential in the zymosan-induced inflammatory response. We further analyzed this process by applying in vivo mouse model. Our findings demonstrate that EGR2 is a key transcriptional activator, responsible for the intact protective program against different pathogens, especially fungi in AMs.
Project description:We provide ChIP-Seq analysis of Egr2 and Sox10 transcription factor binding in Schwann cells of rat peripheral nerve ChIP-Seq analysis of Egr2 and Sox10 binding in P15 rat sciatic nerve. Wiggle files of negative log of posterior probability determined by Mosaics.
Project description:CD4+ T helper 17 (TH17) cells protect barrier tissues but also trigger autoimmunity. The mechanisms behind these opposing processes remain unclear. Here, we found that the transcription factor EGR2 controlled the transcriptional program of pathogenic TH17 cells in the central nervous system (CNS) but not that of protective TH17 cells at barrier sites. EGR2 was significantly elevated in myelin-reactive CD4+ T cells from patients with multiple sclerosis and mice with autoimmune neuroinflammation. The EGR2 transcriptional program was intricately woven within the TH17 cell transcriptional regulatory network and showed high interconnectivity with core TH17 cell-specific transcription factors. Mechanistically, EGR2 enhanced TH17 cell differentiation and myeloid cell recruitment to the CNS by upregulating pathogenesis-associated genes and myelomonocytic chemokines. T cell-specific deletion of Egr2 attenuated neuroinflammation without compromising the host’s ability to control infections. Our study shows that EGR2 regulates tissue-specific and disease-specific functions in pathogenic TH17 cells in the CNS.