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Liu H, Feng Z, Jiao A, Lan L, Ding R, Li W, Zheng H, Su Y, Jia X, Zhang D, Yang X, Zhang L, Sun L, Zhang B. The Transcription Factor Zfp335 Promotes Differentiation and Survival of Effector Th1 Cells by Directly Regulating Lmna Expression. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:1714-1721. [PMID: 38598411 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Ag-specific effector CD4+ T cells play a crucial role in defending against exogenous pathogens. However, the mechanisms governing the differentiation and function of IFN-γ-producing effector CD4+ Th1 cells in immune responses remain largely unknown. In this study, we elucidated the pivotal role of zinc finger protein 335 (Zfp335) in regulating effector Th1 cell differentiation and survival during acute bacterial infection. Mice with Zfp335 knockout in OT-II cells exhibited impaired Ag-specific CD4+ T cell expansion accompanied by a significant reduction in resistance to Listeria infection. Furthermore, Zfp335 deficiency restricted the effector CD4+ Th1 cell population and compromised their survival upon Listeria challenge. The expression of T-bet and IFN-γ was accordingly decreased in Zfp335-deficient Th1 cells. Mechanistically, Zfp335 directly bound to the promoter region of the Lmna gene and regulated its expression. Overexpression of Lmna was able to rescue the survival and function of Zfp335-deficient effector Th1 cells. Therefore, our study provides novel insights into the mechanisms governing effector Th1 cell differentiation and survival during acute infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhao Feng
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Anjun Jiao
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Basic and Translational Research Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Linbo Lan
- Department of Medical Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Yan'an University, Yan'an, China
- Clinical Teaching and Research Center, School of Nursing, Weinan Vocational and Technical College, Weinan, China
| | - Renyi Ding
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenhua Li
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huiqiang Zheng
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanhong Su
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Jia
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Basic and Translational Research Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaofeng Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Basic and Translational Research Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lianjun Zhang
- Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Lina Sun
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Basic and Translational Research Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Baojun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Basic and Translational Research Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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Li D, Quan Z, Ni J, Li H, Qing H. The many faces of the zinc finger protein 335 in brain development and immune system. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115257. [PMID: 37541176 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc finger protein 335 (ZNF335) plays a crucial role in the methylation and, consequently, regulates the expression of a specific set of genes. Variants of the ZNF335 gene have been identified as risk factors for microcephaly in a variety of populations worldwide. Meanwhile, ZNF335 has also been identified as an essential regulator of T-cell development. However, an in-depth understanding of the role of ZNF335 in brain development and T cell maturation is still lacking. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of ZNF335 in neuronal and T cell development across a wide range of pre-clinical, post-mortem, ex vivo, in vivo, and clinical studies. We also review the current limitations regarding the study of the pathophysiological functions of ZNF335. Finally, we hypothesize a potential role for ZNF335 in brain disorders and discuss the rationale of targeting ZNF335 as a therapeutic strategy for preventing brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyang Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Zhenzhen Quan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Junjun Ni
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Hui Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Hong Qing
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
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Wang X, Jiao A, Sun L, Li W, Yang B, Su Y, Ding R, Zhang C, Liu H, Yang X, Sun C, Zhang B. Zinc finger protein Zfp335 controls early T cell development and survival through β-selection-dependent and -independent mechanisms. eLife 2022; 11:75508. [PMID: 35113015 PMCID: PMC8871394 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell development in the thymus undergoes the process of differentiation, selective proliferation, and survival from CD4−CD8− double negative (DN) stage to CD4+CD8+ double positive (DP) stage prior to the formation of CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytolytic T cells ready for circulation. Each developmental stage is tightly regulated by sequentially operating molecular networks, of which only limited numbers of transcription regulators have been deciphered. Here, we identified Zfp335 transcription factor as a new player in the regulatory network controlling thymocyte development in mice. We demonstrate that Zfp335 intrinsically controls DN to DP transition, as T-cell-specific deficiency in Zfp335 leads to a substantial accumulation of DN3 along with reduction of DP, CD4+, and CD8+ thymocytes. This developmental blockade at DN stage results from the impaired intracellular TCRβ (iTCRβ) expression as well as increased susceptibility to apoptosis in thymocytes. Transcriptomic and ChIP-seq analyses revealed a direct regulation of transcription factors Bcl6 and Rorc by Zfp335. Importantly, enhanced expression of TCRβ and Bcl6/Rorc restores the developmental defect during DN3 to DN4 transition and improves thymocytes survival, respectively. These findings identify a critical role of Zfp335 in controlling T-cell development by maintaining iTCRβ expression-mediated β-selection and independently activating cell survival signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Anjun Jiao
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lina Sun
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenhua Li
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Biao Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanhong Su
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Renyi Ding
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Cangang Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaofeng Yang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chenming Sun
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Baojun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
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