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Hu X, Zou Y, Copland DA, Schewitz-Bowers LP, Li Y, Lait PJ, Stimpson M, Zhang Z, Guo S, Liang J, Chen T, Li JJ, Yuan S, Li S, Zhou P, Liu Y, Dick AD, Wen X, Lee RW, Wei L. Epigenetic drug screen identified IOX1 as an inhibitor of Th17-mediated inflammation through targeting TET2. EBioMedicine 2022; 86:104333. [PMID: 36335665 PMCID: PMC9646865 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Targeting helper T cells, especially Th17 cells, has become a plausible therapy for many autoimmune diseases. METHODS Using an in vitro culture system, we screened an epigenetics compound library for inhibitors of IFN-γ and IL-17 expression in murine Th1 and Th17 cultures. FINDINGS This identified IOX1 as an effective suppressor of IL-17 expression in both murine and human CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, we found that IOX1 suppresses Il17a expression directly by targeting TET2 activity on its promoter in Th17 cells. Using established pre-clinical models of intraocular inflammation, treatment with IOX1 in vivo reduced the migration/infiltration of Th17 cells into the site of inflammation and tissue damage. INTERPRETATION These results provide evidence of the strong potential for IOX1 as a viable therapy for inflammatory diseases, in particular of the eye. FUNDING This study was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China 2021YFA1101200 (2021YFA1101204) to LW and XW; the National Natural Science Foundation of China 81900844 to XH and 82171041 to LW; the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation 2021M700776 and the Scientific Research Project of Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Traditional Chinese Medicine 20221373 to YZ; and the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS (National Health Service) Foundation Trust and University College London Institute of Ophthalmology, UK (DAC, LPS, PJPL, MS, ADD and RWJL). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK's Department of Health and Social Care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China,Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Yanli Zou
- Experimental Research Center, Foshan Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - David A. Copland
- Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | | | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | | | - Zhihui Zhang
- Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Eye Institute & School of Optometry and Ophthalmology, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Shixin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Juanran Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sujing Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Penghui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yizhi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Andrew D. Dick
- Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK,National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK,UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK,University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Xiaofeng Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China,MingMed Biotechnology, Guangzhou, China,Corresponding author.
| | - Richard W.J. Lee
- Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK,National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK,UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK,University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK,Corresponding author.
| | - Lai Wei
- MingMed Biotechnology, Guangzhou, China,Schoole of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China,Corresponding author.
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Zou Y, Hu X, Schewitz-Bowers LP, Stimpson M, Miao L, Ge X, Yang L, Li Y, Bible PW, Wen X, Li JJ, Liu Y, Lee RWJ, Wei L. The DNA Methylation Inhibitor Zebularine Controls CD4 + T Cell Mediated Intraocular Inflammation. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1950. [PMID: 31475011 PMCID: PMC6706956 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
CD4+ T cell mediated uveitis is conventionally treated with systemic immunosuppressive agents, including corticosteroids and biologics targeting key inflammatory cytokines. However, their long-term utility is limited due to various side effects. Here, we investigated whether DNA methylation inhibitor zebularine can target CD4+ T cells and control intraocular inflammation. Our results showed that zebularine restrained the expression of inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17 in both human and murine CD4+ T cells in vitro. Importantly, it also significantly alleviated intraocular inflammation and retinal tissue damage in the murine experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) model in vivo, suggesting that the DNA methylation inhibitor zebularine is a candidate new therapeutic agent for uveitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lauren P Schewitz-Bowers
- Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Madeleine Stimpson
- Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Li Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofei Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Paul W Bible
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofeng Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yizhi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Richard W J Lee
- Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lai Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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