Distinct mechanisms regulate IL1B gene transcription in lymphoid CD4 T cells and monocytes

DOI

10.1016/j.cyto.2018.10.001

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

11-1-2018

Publication Title

Cytokine

Volume

111

First Page

373

Last Page

381

ISSN

10434666

Keywords

Bivalent promoter, Interleukin 1beta, Spi1/PU.1, T cell receptor activation

Abstract

Interleukin 1? is a pro-inflammatory cytokine important for both normal immune responses and chronic inflammatory diseases. The regulation of the 31 kDa proIL-1? precursor coded by the IL1B gene has been extensively studied in myeloid cells, but not in lymphoid-derived CD4 T cells. Surprisingly, we found that some CD4 T cell subsets express higher levels of proIL-1? than unstimulated monocytes, despite relatively low IL1B mRNA levels. We observed a significant increase in IL1B transcription and translation in CD4 T cells upon ex vivo CD3/CD28 activation, and a similar elevation in the CCR5+ effector memory population compared to CCR5? T cells in vivo. The rapid and vigorous increase in IL1B gene transcription for stimulated monocytes has previously been associated with the presence of Spi-1/PU.1 (Spi1), a myeloid-lineage transcription factor, pre-bound to the promoter. In the case of CD4 T cells, this increase occurred despite the lack of detectable Spi1 at the IL1B promoter. Additionally, we found altered epigenetic regulation of the IL1B locus in CD3/CD28–activated CD4 T cells. Unlike monocytes, activated CD4 T cells possess bivalent H3K4me3+/H3K27me3+ nucleosome marks at the IL1B promoter, reflecting low transcriptional activity. These results support a model in which the IL1B gene in CD4 T cells is transcribed from a low-activity bivalent promoter independent of Spi1. Accumulated cytoplasmic proIL-1? may ultimately be cleaved to mature 17 kDa bioactive IL-1?, regulating T cell polarization and pathogenic chronic inflammation.

Open Access

Green Accepted

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