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Basu J, Zha J, Nicolas E, Coulton M, Czyzewicz P, Hua X, Ge L, Kappes DJ. An autonomous TCR signal-sensing switch influences CD4/CD8 lineage choice in mice. Commun Biol 2022; 5:84. [PMID: 35064205 PMCID: PMC8783009 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-02999-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
How multipotential cells initiate distinct gene expression programs in response to external cues to instruct cell fate choice remains a fundamental question in biology. Establishment of CD4 and CD8 T cell fates during thymocyte development is critically regulated by T cell receptor (TCR) signals, which in turn control expression of the CD4-determining transcription factor ThPOK. However, the mechanism whereby differential TCR signals are molecularly interpreted to promote or antagonize ThPOK expression, and thereby CD4 versus CD8 lineage fates remains unknown. Here we show, using reverse genetic and molecular approaches that an autonomous, position-independent TCR-sensing switch is embedded within the ThPOK locus. Further, using an in vivo mutagenesis approach, we demonstrate that differential TCR signals are interpreted during lineage commitment by relative binding of EGR, NFAT and Ebox factors to this bistable switch. Collectively our study reveals the central molecular mechanism whereby TCR signaling influences differential lineage choice. Ultimately, these findings may provide an important new tool for skewing T cell fate to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases. Basu Jayati et al. examine how T-cell receptor (TCR) engagement with MHC ligands can contribute toward adoption of CD4 and CD8 cell fates during development. By using an in vivo mutagenesis approach in mice, their results suggest potential mechanisms linking TCR signaling to ThPOK expression and differential immune lineage choice.
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Basu J, Reis BS, Peri S, Zha J, Hua X, Ge L, Ferchen K, Nicolas E, Czyzewicz P, Cai KQ, Tan Y, Fuxman Bass JI, Walhout AJM, Grimes HL, Grivennikov SI, Mucida D, Kappes DJ. Essential role of a ThPOK autoregulatory loop in the maintenance of mature CD4 + T cell identity and function. Nat Immunol 2021; 22:969-982. [PMID: 34312548 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-021-00980-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor ThPOK (encoded by the Zbtb7b gene) controls homeostasis and differentiation of mature helper T cells, while opposing their differentiation to CD4+ intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in the intestinal mucosa. Thus CD4 IEL differentiation requires ThPOK transcriptional repression via reactivation of the ThPOK transcriptional silencer element (SilThPOK). In the present study, we describe a new autoregulatory loop whereby ThPOK binds to the SilThPOK to maintain its own long-term expression in CD4 T cells. Disruption of this loop in vivo prevents persistent ThPOK expression, leads to genome-wide changes in chromatin accessibility and derepresses the colonic regulatory T (Treg) cell gene expression signature. This promotes selective differentiation of naive CD4 T cells into GITRloPD-1loCD25lo (Triplelo) Treg cells and conversion to CD4+ IELs in the gut, thereby providing dominant protection from colitis. Hence, the ThPOK autoregulatory loop represents a key mechanism to physiologically control ThPOK expression and T cell differentiation in the gut, with potential therapeutic relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayati Basu
- Blood Cell Development and Cancer, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Bernardo S Reis
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Suraj Peri
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jikun Zha
- Blood Cell Development and Cancer, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Xiang Hua
- Blood Cell Development and Cancer, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lu Ge
- Blood Cell Development and Cancer, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kyle Ferchen
- Division of Immunobiology and Center for Systems Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital 10 Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Emmanuelle Nicolas
- Blood Cell Development and Cancer, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Philip Czyzewicz
- Blood Cell Development and Cancer, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kathy Q Cai
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yinfei Tan
- Cancer Biology, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Juan I Fuxman Bass
- Program in Systems Biology, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Albertha J M Walhout
- Program in Systems Biology, Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - H Leighton Grimes
- Division of Immunobiology and Center for Systems Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital 10 Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sergei I Grivennikov
- Cancer Prevention and Control, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Departments of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Mucida
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dietmar J Kappes
- Blood Cell Development and Cancer, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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