Notch ligand Delta-like 4 induces epigenetic regulation of Treg cell differentiation and function in viral infection

Mucosal Immunol. 2018 Sep;11(5):1524-1536. doi: 10.1038/s41385-018-0052-1. Epub 2018 Jul 23.

Abstract

Notch ligand Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) has been shown to regulate CD4 T-cell differentiation, including regulatory T cells (Treg). Epigenetic alterations, which include histone modifications, are critical in cell differentiation decisions. Recent genome-wide studies demonstrated that Treg have increased trimethylation on histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3) around the Treg master transcription factor, Foxp3 loci. Here we report that DLL4 dynamically increased H3K4 methylation around the Foxp3 locus that was dependent upon upregulated SET and MYDN domain containing protein 3 (SMYD3). DLL4 promoted Smyd3 through the canonical Notch pathway in iTreg differentiation. DLL4 inhibition during pulmonary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection decreased Smyd3 expression and Foxp3 expression in Treg leading to increased Il17a. On the other hand, DLL4 supported Il10 expression in vitro and in vivo, which was also partially dependent upon SMYD3. Using genome-wide unbiased mRNA sequencing, novel sets of DLL4- and Smyd3-dependent differentially expressed genes were discovered, including lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (Lag3), a checkpoint inhibitor that has been identified for modulating Th cell activation. Together, our data demonstrate a novel mechanism of DLL4/Notch-induced Smyd3 epigenetic pathways that maintain regulatory CD4 T cells in viral infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • DNA Methylation
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / genetics
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / immunology*
  • Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • DLL4 protein, mouse
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Histones
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Smyd3 protein, mouse