Ets1 Promotes the Differentiation of Post-Selected iNKT Cells through Regulation of the Expression of Vα14Jα18 T Cell Receptor and PLZF

Promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger controls type 2 immune responses in the lungs by regulating lineage commitment and the function of innate and adaptive immune cells

Type 2 immune responses are critical for host defense, mediate allergy and Th2-high asthma. The transcription factor, promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF), has emerged as a significant regulator of type 2 inflammation in the lung; however, its exact mechanism remains unclear. In this review, we summarized recent findings regarding the ability of PLZF to control the development and function of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), iNKT cells, memory T cells, basophils, and other immune cells that drive type 2 responses. We discussed the important role of PLZF in the pathogenesis of Th2-high asthma. Collectively, prior studies have revealed the critical role of PLZF in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune cells involved in type 2 inflammation in the lung. Therefore, targeting PLZF signaling represents a promising therapeutic approach to suppress Th2-high asthma.

Mutation of the ETS1 3'UTR interacts with miR-216a-3p to regulate granulosa cell apoptosis in sheep

ETS1, an important member of the ETS transcription factor family, is involved in a variety of physiological processes in living organisms, such as cell development, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis, and is thought to be associated with embryonic development and reproduction. However, the polymorphism of ETS1 has been rarely studied, and its potential impact on the formation of reproductive traits in sheep remains unclear. Here, we first analyzed polymorphisms of ETS1 in a population of 382 small-tailed Han sheep with a lambing number record using the Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) technique. The results showed the presence of a SNP locus rs161611767 (T > C) in the 3'UTR of ETS1. The association analysis showed the lambing number of first, second and third parity in the individuals with the CC genotype (2.51 ± 0.108, 2.51 ± 0.179, 1.27 ± 0.196) was higher than that of individuals with the TT genotype (1.79 ± 0.086, 1.56 ± 0.102, 0.56 ± 0.100) (P < 0.05). Then, molecular biotechnologies were used to investigate the effects of the EST1 rs161611767 mutant locus on host gene expression in sheep and the underlying mechanism of its effect on sheep reproduction. The RT‒qPCR results showed that the expression of ETS1 was higher in individuals with the CC genotype than in those with the TT genotype (P < 0.05). The dual luciferase reporter assay showed that the luciferase activity of ETS1 in sheep with the TT genotype was decreased compared to CC genotype (P < 0.05), confirming the existence of EST1 rs161611767 in the 3'UTR as a functional SNP. Given that the 3'UTR is an important regulatory region of gene transcription and translation, we performed bioinformatics prediction and confirmed that the SNP rs161611767 of ETS1 was a direct functional target of miR-216a-3p using dual luciferase activity assay, and the binding capacity of allele T was stronger than that of allele C. Subsequently, the cell transfection results showed that miR-216a-3p suppressed the endogenous expression of ETS1 in sheep primary granulosa cells (GCs). Finally, CCK-8, EdU, WB detection of marker proteins and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of miR-216a-3p on GCs viability and proliferation/apoptosis, respectively. The results showed that miR-216a-3p inhibited the proliferation of GCs while promoting apoptosis of GCs. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that the SNP rs161611767 of ETS1 is associated with lambing number in small-tailed Han sheep, and miR-216a-3p can act as a regulatory element binding to the T mutation in rs161611767 to regulate ETS1 expression and affect GCs development, which may indirectly affect the number of lambs in sheep. These studies provide evidence for the involvement of ETS1 polymorphisms in sheep reproduction and are expected to provide new insights to elucidate the molecular genetic mechanisms of lambing traits in sheep.

Genomic and Transcriptional Mechanisms Governing Innate-like T Lymphocyte Development

Innate-like lymphocytes are a subset of lymphoid cells that function as a first line of defense against microbial infection. These cells are activated by proinflammatory cytokines or broadly expressed receptors and are able to rapidly perform their effector functions owing to a uniquely primed chromatin state that is acquired as a part of their developmental program. These cells function in many organs to protect against disease, but they release cytokines and cytotoxic mediators that can also lead to severe tissue pathologies. Therefore, harnessing the capabilities of these cells for therapeutic interventions will require a deep understanding of how these cells develop and regulate their effector functions. In this review we discuss recent advances in the identification of the transcription factors and the genomic regions that guide the development and function of invariant NKT cells and we highlight related mechanisms in other innate-like lymphocytes.