title: Epigenetic regulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is a potent cytokine which regulates inflammation via the induction of adhesion molecules and chemokine expression. Its expression is known to be regulated in a complex manner with transcription, message turnover, message splicing, translation, and protein cleavage from the cell surface all being independently regulated. This study examined both cell lines and primary cells to understand the developmental regulation of epigenetic changes at the TNF-alpha locus. We demonstrate that epigenetic modifications of the TNF-alpha locus occur both developmentally and in response to acute stimulation and, importantly, that they actively regulate expression. DNA demethylates early in development, beginning with the hematopoietic stem cell. The TNF-alpha locus migrates from heterochromatin to euchromatin in a progressive fashion, reaching euchromatin slightly later in differentiation. Finally, histone modifications characteristic of a transcriptionally competent gene occur with myeloid differentiation and progress with differentiation. Additional histone modifications characteristic of active gene expression are acquired with stimulation. In each case, manipulation of these epigenetic variables altered the ability of the cell to express TNF-alpha. These studies demonstrate the importance of epigenetic regulation in the control of TNF-alpha expression. These findings may have relevance for inflammatory disorders in which TNF-alpha is overproduced.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 34th St. and Civic Ctr. Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. sullivak@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: A B M
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dietzmann
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Suriano
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Kocieda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhatia
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation / Q000187:drug effects; D000241:Adenosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D022041:Euchromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D013447:Sulfites; D013872:Thionucleosides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D022041:Euchromatin; D006657:Histones; D013447:Sulfites; D013872:Thionucleosides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C021714:2-methylthioadenosine; D000241:Adenosine; C042345:hydrogen sulfite