[PDF][PDF] Blimp-1 functions as a molecular switch to prevent inflammatory activity in Foxp3+ RORγt+ regulatory T cells

C Ogawa, R Bankoti, T Nguyen, N Hassanzadeh-Kiabi… - Cell reports, 2018 - cell.com
C Ogawa, R Bankoti, T Nguyen, N Hassanzadeh-Kiabi, S Nadeau, RA Porritt, M Couse
Cell reports, 2018cell.com
Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are essential modulators of immune responses, but the
molecular mechanisms underlying their function are not fully understood. Here we show that
the transcription factor Blimp-1 is a crucial regulator of the Foxp3+ RORγt+ Treg subset. The
intrinsic expression of Blimp-1 in these cells is required to prevent production of Th17-
associated cytokines. Direct binding of Blimp-1 to the Il17 locus in Treg is associated with
inhibitory histone modifications but unaltered binding of RORγt. In the absence of Blimp-1 …
Summary
Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) are essential modulators of immune responses, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their function are not fully understood. Here we show that the transcription factor Blimp-1 is a crucial regulator of the Foxp3+RORγt+ Treg subset. The intrinsic expression of Blimp-1 in these cells is required to prevent production of Th17-associated cytokines. Direct binding of Blimp-1 to the Il17 locus in Treg is associated with inhibitory histone modifications but unaltered binding of RORγt. In the absence of Blimp-1, the Il17 locus is activated, with increased occupancy of the co-activator p300 and abundant binding of the transcriptional regulator IRF4, which is required, along with RORγt, for IL-17 expression in the absence of Blimp-1. We also show that despite their sustained expression of Foxp3, Blimp-1−/− RORγt+IL-17-producing Treg lose suppressor function and can promote intestinal inflammation, indicating that repression of Th17-associated cytokines by Blimp-1 is a crucial requirement for RORγt+ Treg function.
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