Project description:Foxp3+ T-regulatory cells (Tregs) are key to immune homeostasis such that their diminished numbers or function can cause autoimmunity and allograft rejection. Foxp3+ Tregs express histone/protein deacetylases (HDACs) that regulate chromatin remodeling, gene expression and protein function. Pan-HDAC inhibitors developed for oncology enhance Treg production and suppression but have limited non-oncologic applications given their broad effects. We show, using HDAC6-deficient mice and WT mice treated with HDAC6-specific inhibitors, that HDAC6 inhibition promotes Treg suppressive activity in models of inflammation and autoimmunity, including multiple forms of experimental colitis and fully MHC-incompatible cardiac allograft rejection. Many of the beneficial effects of HDAC6 targeting are also achieved by inhibition of the HDAC6-regulated protein, HSP90. Hence, selective targeting of a single HDAC isoform, HDAC6, or its downstream target, HSP90, can promote Treg-dependent suppression of autoimmunity and transplant rejection. RNA from three independent samples from magnetically separated CD4+CD25+ Treg of HDAC6 knock out, compared to wild type (C57BL6) control
Project description:Targeting histone/protein deacetylase (HDAC)-6, -9, or Sirtuin-1 (Sirt1) augments the suppressive functions of Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells, but it is unclear if this involves different mechanisms, such that combined inhibition would be beneficial. We compared the suppressive functions of Tregs from wild-type C57BL/6 mice or mice with global (HDAC6-/-, HDAC9-/-, dual HDAC6/9-/-) or conditional deletion (CD4-Cre or Foxp3-Cre and floxed Sirt1; GSE26425) alone, or after treatment with isoform-selective HDAC inhibitors (HDACi). We found the heat shock response was crucial in mediating the effects of HDAC6, but not Sirt1 inhibition. Furthermore, while HDAC6, HDAC9 and Sirt1 all deacetylate Foxp3, each has diverse effects on Foxp3 transcription, and loss of HDAC9 is associated with stabilization of Stat5 acetylation and its transcriptional activity. Targeting different HDAC can increase Treg function by multiple and additive mechanisms, indicating the therapeutic potential for combinations of HDACi in the management of autoimmunity and alloresponses post-transplant. RNA from three independent samples of magnetically separated CD4+CD25+ Treg of HDAC9-/- mice, compared to wild type (C57BL/6) control.
Project description:Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are responsible for limiting autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. Foxp3 is a transcription factor that acts as a master regulator of Treg development and function. A serendipitous observation led to the realization that a well-characterized Foxp3gfp reporter mouse, which expresses an N-terminal GFP-Foxp3 fusion protein, is a hypomorph that causes profoundly accelerated autoimmune diabetes on a NOD background. Although natural Treg development and in vitro function is not significantly altered in Foxp3gfp NOD and C57BL/6 mice, Treg fitness function in inflammatory environments is perturbed and TGF?-induced Treg development reduced. Foxp3gfpis unable to interact with the histone acetyltransferase Tip60, the histone deacetylase HDAC7, and the Ikaros family zinc finger 4, Eos, which leads to reduced Foxp3 acetylation and enhanced K48-linked polyubiquitylation. Collectively this leads to an altered transcriptional landscape and reduced Foxp3-mediated gene repression, notably at the hallmark IL-2 promoter. Loss of controlled Foxp3-driven epigenetic modification leads to Treg insufficiency that causes autoimmunity in prone environments. 16 samples overall split between 2 genotypes (wild type and Foxp3 knock in) and two cell types (Tregs and Tconv)
Project description:Sirtuin-1 (Sirt1), a class III histone/protein deacetylase is central to cellular metabolism, stress responses and aging, but its contributions to various host immune functions have been little investigated. To study the role of Sirt1 in T-cell functions, we undertook targeted deletions by mating mice with a floxed Sirt1 gene to mice expressing CD4-cre or Foxp3-cre recombinase, respectively. We found that Sirt1 deletion left conventional T-effector cell activation, proliferation and cytokine production largely unaltered. However, Sirt1 targeting promoted the expression and acetylation of Foxp3, a key transcription factor in T-regulatory (Treg) cells, and increased Treg suppressive functions in vitro and in vivo. Consistent with these data, mice with targeted deletions of Sirt1 in either CD4+ T-cells or Foxp3+ Treg cells exhibited prolonged survival of MHC-mismatched cardiac allografts. Allografts in Sirt1 targeted recipients showed long-term preservation of myocardial histology and infiltration by Foxp3+ Treg cells. Comparable results were seen in wild-type allograft recipients treated with Sirt1 inhibitors, such as EX-527 and splitomicin. Hence, Sirt1 may inhibit Treg functions and its targeting may have therapeutic value in autoimmunity and transplantation. RNA from three independent samples from magnetically separated CD4+CD25+ Treg of Sirt1 knock out, compared to wild type (C57BL6) control
Project description:Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are responsible for limiting autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. Foxp3 is a transcription factor that acts as a master regulator of Treg development and function. A serendipitous observation led to the realization that a well-characterized Foxp3gfp reporter mouse, which expresses an N-terminal GFP-Foxp3 fusion protein, is a hypomorph that causes profoundly accelerated autoimmune diabetes on a NOD background. Although natural Treg development and in vitro function is not significantly altered in Foxp3gfp NOD and C57BL/6 mice, Treg fitness function in inflammatory environments is perturbed and TGFβ-induced Treg development reduced. Foxp3gfpis unable to interact with the histone acetyltransferase Tip60, the histone deacetylase HDAC7, and the Ikaros family zinc finger 4, Eos, which leads to reduced Foxp3 acetylation and enhanced K48-linked polyubiquitylation. Collectively this leads to an altered transcriptional landscape and reduced Foxp3-mediated gene repression, notably at the hallmark IL-2 promoter. Loss of controlled Foxp3-driven epigenetic modification leads to Treg insufficiency that causes autoimmunity in prone environments.
Project description:Foxp3+ T-regulatory cells (Tregs) are key to immune homeostasis such that their diminished numbers or function can cause autoimmunity and allograft rejection. Foxp3+ Tregs express histone/protein deacetylases (HDACs) that regulate chromatin remodeling, gene expression and protein function. Pan-HDAC inhibitors developed for oncology enhance Treg production and suppression but have limited non-oncologic applications given their broad effects. We show, using HDAC6-deficient mice and WT mice treated with HDAC6-specific inhibitors, that HDAC6 inhibition promotes Treg suppressive activity in models of inflammation and autoimmunity, including multiple forms of experimental colitis and fully MHC-incompatible cardiac allograft rejection. Many of the beneficial effects of HDAC6 targeting are also achieved by inhibition of the HDAC6-regulated protein, HSP90. Hence, selective targeting of a single HDAC isoform, HDAC6, or its downstream target, HSP90, can promote Treg-dependent suppression of autoimmunity and transplant rejection.
Project description:The proposed use of Foxp3+ T-regulatory (Treg) cells as potential cellular therapy in patients with autoimmune diseases, or post-hemopoietic stem cell or organ transplantation, requires a sound understanding of the transcriptional regulation of Foxp3 expression. Conserved CpG dinucleotides in the Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR) upstream of Foxp3 are demethylated only in stable, thymic-derived Foxp3+ Tregs. Since methyl-binding domain (Mbd) proteins recruit histone-modifying and chromatin-remodeling complexes to methylated sites, we tested whether targeting of Mbd2 might promote demethylation of Foxp3 and thereby promote Treg numbers or function. Surprisingly, while ChIP analysis showed Mbd2 binding to the Foxp3-associated TSDR site in Tregs, Mbd2 targeting by homologous recombination or siRNA decreased Treg numbers and impaired Treg suppressive function in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we found complete TSDR demethylation in WT Tregs but >75% methylation in Mbd2-/- Tregs, whereas re-introduction of Mbd2 into Mbd2-null Tregs restored TSDR demethylation, Foxp3 gene expression and Treg suppressive function. Lastly, Mbd2-/- Tregs had markedly binding of the DNA demethylase enzyme, Tet2, in the TSDR region. These data show that Mbd2 has a key role in promoting TSDR demethylation, Foxp3 expression and Treg suppressive function. RNA from three independent samples from magnetically separated CD4+CD25+ Treg of MBD2–/– mice, compared to wild type control (all Balb/c background).
Project description:Targeting histone/protein deacetylase (HDAC)-6, -9, or Sirtuin-1 (Sirt1) augments the suppressive functions of Foxp3+ T regulatory (Treg) cells, but it is unclear if this involves different mechanisms, such that combined inhibition would be beneficial. We compared the suppressive functions of Tregs from wild-type C57BL/6 mice or mice with global (HDAC6-/-, HDAC9-/-, dual HDAC6/9-/-) or conditional deletion (CD4-Cre or Foxp3-Cre and floxed Sirt1; GSE26425) alone, or after treatment with isoform-selective HDAC inhibitors (HDACi). We found the heat shock response was crucial in mediating the effects of HDAC6, but not Sirt1 inhibition. Furthermore, while HDAC6, HDAC9 and Sirt1 all deacetylate Foxp3, each has diverse effects on Foxp3 transcription, and loss of HDAC9 is associated with stabilization of Stat5 acetylation and its transcriptional activity. Targeting different HDAC can increase Treg function by multiple and additive mechanisms, indicating the therapeutic potential for combinations of HDACi in the management of autoimmunity and alloresponses post-transplant.