title: A critical control element for interleukin-4 memory expression in T helper lymphocytes.
abstract: Naive T helper (Th) lymphocytes are induced to express the il4 (interleukin-4) gene by simultaneous signaling through the T cell receptor and the interleukin (IL)-4 receptor. Upon restimulation with antigen, such preactivated Th lymphocytes can reexpress the il4 gene independent of IL-4 receptor signaling. This memory for expression of the il4 gene depends on epigenetic modification of the il4 gene locus and an increased expression of GATA-3, the key transcription factor for Th2 differentiation. Here, we have identified a phylogenetically conserved sequence, the conserved intronic regulatory element, in the first intron of the il4 gene containing a tandem GATA-3 binding site. We show that GATA-3 binds to this sequence in a position- and orientation-dependent manner, in vitro and in vivo. DNA demethylation and histone acetylation of this region occurs early and selectively in differentiating, IL-4-secreting Th2 lymphocytes. Deletion of the conserved element by replacement of the first exon and part of the first intron of the il4 gene with gfp leads to a defect in the establishment of memory for expression of IL-4, in that reexpression of IL-4 still requires costimulation by exogenous IL-4. The conserved intronic regulatory element thus links the initial epigenetic modification of the il4 gene to GATA-3 and serves as a genetic control element for memory expression of IL-4.
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, Berlin 10117, Germany.
authors.forename: Lars-Oliver
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Tykocinski
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hajkova
authors.forename: Hyun-Dong
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Torsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stamm
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sözeri
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Löhning
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu-Li
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Niesner
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kreher
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pannetier
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grütz
authors.forename: Jörn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radbruch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D019175:DNA Methylation; D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D007438:Introns; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; C494749:GATA3 protein, human; C494748:Gata3 protein, mouse; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D015534:Trans-Activators; D015847:Interleukin-4