Impaired GATA3-dependent chromatin remodeling and Th2 cell differentiation leading to attenuated allergic airway inflammation in aging mice.
Age-related changes in lymphocytes are most prominent in the T cell compartment. There have been substantial numbers of reports on T cell function in aged mice and humans, such as on the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, but the results show considerable variation and contradictions. In the present study, we used 8- to 12-mo-old aging mice and a well-established in vitro Th1/Th2 cell differentiation culture system to identify molecular defects in Th1/Th2 cell differentiation that can be detected in the relatively early stages of aging. The capability to differentiate into Th2 cells is reduced in aging mouse CD4(+) T cells. Decreased activation of the ERK MAPK cascade upon TCR stimulation, but normal intracellular-free calcium ion concentration mobilization and normal IL-4-induced STAT6 activation were observed in aging mouse CD4(+) T cells. In addition, reduced expression of GATA3 was detected in developing Th2 cells. Chromatin remodeling of the Th2 cytokine gene locus was found to be impaired. Th2-dependent allergic airway inflammation was milder in aging mice compared with in young adult mice. These results suggest that the levels of Th2 cell differentiation and resulting Th2-dependent immune responses, including allergic airway inflammation, decline during aging through defects in the activation of the ERK MAPK cascade, expression of GATA3 protein and GATA3-dependent chromatin remodeling of the Th2 cytokine gene locus. In the present study, we provide the first evidence indicating that a chromatin-remodeling event in T cells is impaired by aging.
Hasegawa
Akihiro
A
Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Japan.
Miki
Takako
T
Hosokawa
Hiroyuki
H
Hossain
Mohammad B
MB
Shimizu
Chiori
C
Hashimoto
Kahoko
K
Kimura
Motoko Y
MY
Yamashita
Masakatsu
M
Nakayama
Toshinori
T
D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010641:Phenotype; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
D000906:Antibodies; D016207:Cytokines; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D010047:Ovalbumin