title: DNA methylation and the expression of IL-4 and IFN-gamma promoter genes in patients with bronchial asthma.
abstract: Although CpG methylation is thought to be a negative regulator of gene transcription, its relationship with cytokine expression remains unclear. Interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-gamma are major cytokines that affect the differentiation of naïve CD4+ T lymphocytes into the Th1 and Th2 lineage. We used bisulfite deoxyribonucleic acid modification and sequencing to examine the relationship between CpG methylation and IL-4 and IFN-gamma gene expression before and after allergen stimulation in human CD4+ T lymphocytes from sensitized hosts. In naïve cells, the CpGs in the promoter regions were methylated largely in both the IL-4 and IFN-gamma genes. After Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus/Dermatophagoides farinae stimulation, the degree of unmethylation in the IL-4 gene increased in cells from patients with bronchial asthma. After phytohemagglutinin stimulation, the degree of unmethylation increased in cells from nonallergic control subjects. The concentration of IL-4 was strongly correlated with the degree of unmethylation in the patient group. These data suggest that CpGs located at -80 of the IL-4 gene and at -295, -186, and +122 of the IFN-gamma gene have regulatory activities important for cytokine expression. We conclude that the stimulation of CD4+ T lymphocytes causes considerable increases in the degree of unmethylation and that in sensitized hosts, the extent of unmethylation correlates with the concentration of IL-4.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergies, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-dong, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, South Korea, 135-710.
authors.forename: Nam-Hee
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jin-Seuk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mi-Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Dong-Chull
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; C508598:IL4 protein, human; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma