Histone derived antimicrobial peptides identified from Mytilus coruscus serum by peptidomics.

Histones and their N-terminal or C-terminal derived peptides have been studied in vertebrates and presented as potential antimicrobial agents playing important roles in the innate immune defenses. Although histones and their derived peptides had been reported as components of innate immunity in invertebrates, the knowledge about the histone derived antimicrobial peptides (HDAPs) in invertebrates are still limited. Using a peptidomic technique, a set of peptide fragments derived from the histones was identified in this study from the serum of microbes challenged Mytilus coruscus. Among the 85 identified histone-derived-peptides with high confidence, 5 HDAPs were chemically synthesized and the antimicrobial activities were verified, showing strong growth inhibition against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungus. The gene expression level of the precursor histones matched by representative HDAPs were further tested using q-PCR, and the results showed a significant upregulation of the histone gene expression levels in hemocytes, gill, and mantle of the mussel after immune stress. In addition, three identified HDAPs were selected for preparation of specific antibodies, and the corresponding histones and their derived C-terminal fragments were detected by Western blotting in the blood cell and serum of immune challenged mussel, respectively, indicating the existence of HDAPs in M. coruscus. Our findings revealed the immune function of histones in Mytilus, and confirmed the existence of HDAPs in the mussel. The identified Mytilus HDAPs represent a new source of immune effector with antimicrobial function in the innate immune system, and thus provide promising candidates for the treatment of microbial infections in aquaculture and medicine.

Histone-Specific CD4+ T Cell Plasticity in Active and Quiescent Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess whether circulating histone-specific T cells represent tools for precision medicine in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Seroprevalence of autoantibodies and HLA-DR beta (DRB) 1 profile were assessed among 185 patients with SLE and combined with bioinformatics and literature evidence to identify HLA-peptide autoepitope couples for ex vivo detection of antigen-specific T cells through flow cytometry. T cell differentiation and polarization was investigated in patients with SLE, patients with Takayasu arteritis, and healthy controls carrying HLA-DRB1*03:01 and/or HLA-DRB1*11:01. SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 and Lupus Low Disease Activity State were used to estimate disease activity and remission. RESULTS: Histone-specific CD4+ T cells were selectively detected in patients with SLE. Among patients with a history of anti-DNA antibodies, 77% had detectable histone-specific T cells, whereas 50% had lymphocytes releasing cytokines or upregulating activation markers after in vitro challenge with histone peptide antigens. Histone-specific regulatory and effector T helper (Th) 1-, Th2-, and atypical Th1/Th17 (Th1*)-polarized cells were significantly more abundant in patients with SLE with quiescent disease. In contrast, total Th1-, Th2-, and Th1*-polarized and regulatory T cells were similarly represented between patients and controls or patients with SLE with active versus quiescent disease. Histone-specific effector memory T cells accumulated in the blood of patients with quiescent SLE, whereas total effector memory T cell counts did not change. Immunosuppressants were associated with expanded CD4+ histone-specific naive T (TN) and terminally differentiated T cells. CONCLUSION: Histone-specific T cells are selectively detected in patients with SLE, and their concentration in the blood varies with disease activity, suggesting that they represent innovative tools for patient stratification and therapy.

Decreased Jumonji Domain-Containing 3 at the Promoter Downregulates Hematopoietic Progenitor Kinase 1 Expression and Cytoactivity of T Follicular Helper Cells from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are overactivated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and contribute to excessive immunity. Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1), as an inhibitor of T cells, is underexpressed in SLE Tfh cells and consequently induces autoimmunity. However, the reason for downregulation of HPK1 in SLE Tfh cells remains elusive. By combining chromatin immunoprecipitation with quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays, it was found that histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) at the HPK1 promoter in SLE Tfh cells elevated greatly. We also confirmed jumonji domain-containing 3 (JMJD3) binding at the HPK1 promoter in SLE Tfh cells reduced profoundly. Knocking down JMJD3 in normal Tfh cells with siRNA alleviated enrichments of JMJD3, H3K4me3, and mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) 1 at the HPK1 promoter and increased H3K27me3 number in the region. HPK1 expression was lowered, while Tfh cell proliferation activity, IL-21 and IFNγ secretions in the supernatants of Tfh cells, and IgG1 and IgG3 concentrations in the supernatants of Tfh-B cell cocultures all upregulated markedly. In contrast, elevating JMJD3 amount in SLE Tfh cells by JMJD3-overexpressed plasmid showed opposite effects. The abundances of H3K4me3 and MLL1 at the HPK1 promoter in SLE Tfh cells were greatly attenuated. Our results suggest that deficient JMJD3 binding at the promoter dampens HPK1 expression in SLE Tfh cells, thus making Tfh cells overactive, and ultimately results in onset of SLE.

Histone acetylome-wide associations in immune cells from individuals with active Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Host cell chromatin changes are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. Here we describe a histone acetylome-wide association study (HAWAS) of an infectious disease, on the basis of genome-wide H3K27 acetylation profiling of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes from persons with active Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and healthy controls. We detected >2,000 differentially acetylated loci in either cell type in a Singapore Chinese discovery cohort (n = 46), which were validated in a subsequent multi-ethnic Singapore cohort (n = 29), as well as a longitudinal cohort from South Africa (n = 26), thus demonstrating that HAWAS can be independently corroborated. Acetylation changes were correlated with differential gene expression. Differential acetylation was enriched near potassium channel genes, including KCNJ15, which modulates apoptosis and promotes Mtb clearance in vitro. We performed histone acetylation quantitative trait locus (haQTL) analysis on the dataset and identified 69 candidate causal variants for immune phenotypes among granulocyte haQTLs and 83 among monocyte haQTLs. Our study provides proof-of-principle for HAWAS to infer mechanisms of host response to pathogens.

Rare germline heterozygous missense variants in BRCA1-associated protein 1, BAP1, cause a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder.

Nuclear deubiquitinase BAP1 (BRCA1-associated protein 1) is a core component of multiprotein complexes that promote transcription by reversing the ubiquitination of histone 2A (H2A). BAP1 is a tumor suppressor whose germline loss-of-function variants predispose to cancer. To our knowledge, there are very rare examples of different germline variants in the same gene causing either a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) or a tumor predisposition syndrome. Here, we report a series of 11 de novo germline heterozygous missense BAP1 variants associated with a rare syndromic NDD. Functional analysis showed that most of the variants cannot rescue the consequences of BAP1 inactivation, suggesting a loss-of-function mechanism. In T cells isolated from two affected children, H2A deubiquitination was impaired. In matching peripheral blood mononuclear cells, histone H3 K27 acetylation ChIP-seq indicated that these BAP1 variants induced genome-wide chromatin state alterations, with enrichment for regulatory regions surrounding genes of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). Altogether, these results define a clinical syndrome caused by rare germline missense BAP1 variants that alter chromatin remodeling through abnormal histone ubiquitination and lead to transcriptional dysregulation of developmental genes.

Clinical advances in targeting epigenetics for cancer therapy.

The appropriate coordination between epigenetic regulators is essential for spatial and temporal regulation of gene expression and maintenance of cell identity. Cancer is a disease driven by both genetic and epigenetic alterations. The widespread dysregulation and reversible nature of epigenetic alterations confer cancer cells with vulnerabilities for therapeutic interventions. Over the past decades, remarkable progress has been made in developing drugs that target epigenetic regulators, with many drugs under evaluation in clinical trials. Here, we summarize the epigenetic drugs currently in clinical investigations and highlight the potentials and challenges in their implication to treat cancer. We also discuss the preclinical and clinical results of combination therapies with epigenetic drugs and other therapies such as targeted and immune-based therapies.

Exploring the Prognostic Value, Immune Implication and Biological Function of H2AFY Gene in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an extremely malignant cancer with poor survival. H2AFY gene encodes for a variant of H2A histone, and it has been found to be dysregulated in various tumors. However, the clinical value, biological functions and correlations with immune infiltration of H2AFY in HCC remain unclear. Methods: We analyzed the expression and clinical significance of H2AFY in HCC using multiple databases, including Oncomine, HCCDB, TCGA, ICGC, and so on. The genetic alterations of H2AFY were analyzed by cBioPortal and COSMIC databases. Co-expression networks of H2AFY and its regulators were investigated by LinkedOmics. The correlations between H2AFY and tumor immune infiltration were explored using TIMER, TISIDB databases, and CIBERSORT method. Finally, H2AFY was knocked down with shRNA lentiviruses in HCC cell lines for functional assays in vitro. Results: H2AFY expression was upregulated in the HCC tissues and cells. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses revealed that high H2AFY expression was an independent prognostic factor for poor survival in HCC patients. Functional network analysis indicated that H2AFY and its co-expressed genes regulates cell cycle, mitosis, spliceosome and chromatin assembly through pathways involving many cancer-related kinases and E2F family. Furthermore, we observed significant correlations between H2AFY expression and immune infiltration in HCC. H2AFY knockdown suppressed the cell proliferation and migration, promoted cycle arrest, and apoptosis of HCC cells in vitro. Conclusion: Our study revealed that H2AFY is a potential biomarker for unfavorable prognosis and correlates with immune infiltration in HCC.

Citrullinated Histone H3 Mediates Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury Through Activating Caspase-1 Dependent Inflammasome Pathway.

Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by dysregulated host response to infection that often results in acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). An emerging mechanism of sepsis-induced ARDS involves neutrophils/macrophages undergoing cell death, releasing nuclear histones to cause tissue damage that exacerbates pulmonary injury. While published studies focus on unmodified histones, little is known about the role of citrullinated histone H3 (CitH3) in the pathogenesis of sepsis and ALI. In this study, we found that levels of CitH3 were elevated in the patients with sepsis-induced ARDS and correlated to PaO2/FiO2 in septic patients. Systematic administration of CitH3 peptide in mice provoked Caspase-1 activation in the lung tissue and caused ALI. Neutralization of CitH3 with monoclonal antibody improved survival and attenuated ALI in a mouse sepsis model. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CitH3 induces ALI through activating Caspase-1 dependent inflammasome in bone marrow derived macrophages and bone marrow derived dendritic cells. Our study suggests that CitH3 is an important mediator of inflammation and mortality during sepsis-induced ALI.

Histone H2A Nuclear/Cytoplasmic Trafficking Is Essential for Negative Regulation of Antiviral Immune Response and Lysosomal Degradation of TBK1 and IRF3.

Histone H2A is a nuclear molecule tightly associated in the form of the nucleosome. Our previous studies have demonstrated the antibacterial property of piscine H2A variants against gram-negative bacteria Edwardsiella piscicida and Gram-positive bacteria Streptococcus agalactiae. In this study, we show the function and mechanism of piscine H2A in the negative regulation of RLR signaling pathway and host innate immune response against spring viremia of carp virus (SVCV) infection. SVCV infection significantly inhibits the expression of histone H2A during an early stage of infection, but induces the expression of histone H2A during the late stage of infection such as at 48 and 72 hpi. Under normal physiological conditions, histone H2A is nuclear-localized. However, SVCV infection promotes the migration of histone H2A from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The in vivo studies revealed that histone H2A overexpression led to the increased expression of SVCV gene and decreased survival rate. The overexpression of histone H2A also significantly impaired the expression levels of those genes involved in RLR antiviral signaling pathway. Furthermore, histone H2A targeted TBK1 and IRF3 to promote their protein degradation via the lysosomal pathway and impair the formation of TBK1-IRF3 functional complex. Importantly, histone H2A completely abolished TBK1-mediated antiviral activity and enormously impaired the protein expression of IRF3, especially nuclear IRF3. Further analysis demonstrated that the inhibition of histone H2A nuclear/cytoplasmic trafficking could relieve the protein degradation of TBK1 and IRF3, and blocked the negative regulation of histone H2A on the SVCV infection. Collectively, our results suggest that histone H2A nuclear/cytoplasmic trafficking is essential for negative regulation of RLR signaling pathway and antiviral immune response in response to SVCV infection.

Early and Late Processes Driving NET Formation, and the Autocrine/Paracrine Role of Endogenous RAGE Ligands.

Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation has emerged as an important response against various pathogens; it also plays a role in chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer. Despite a growing understanding of the mechanisms underlying NET formation, much remains to be elucidated. We previously showed that in human neutrophils activated with different classes of physiological stimuli, NET formation features both early and late events that are controlled by discrete signaling pathways. However, the nature of these events has remained elusive. We now report that PAD4 inhibition only affects the early phase of NET generation, as do distinct signaling intermediates (TAK1, MEK, p38 MAPK). Accordingly, the inducible citrullination of residue R2 on histone H3 is an early neutrophil response that is regulated by these kinases; other arginine residues on histones H3 and H4 do not seem to be citrullinated. Conversely, elastase blockade did not affect NET formation by several physiological stimuli, though it did so in PMA-activated cells. Among belated events in NET formation, we found that chromatin decondensation is impaired by the inhibition of signaling pathways controlling both early and late stages of the phenomenon. In addition to chromatin decondensation, other late processes were uncovered. For instance, unstimulated neutrophils can condition themselves to be poised for rapid NET induction. Similarly, activated neutrophils release endogenous proteic factors that promote and largely mediate NET generation. Several such factors are known RAGE ligands and accordingly, RAGE inbibition largely prevents both NET formation and the conditioning of neutrophils to rapidly generate NETs upon stimulation. Our data shed new light on the cellular processes underlying NET formation, and unveil unsuspected facets of the phenomenon that could serve as therapeutic targets. In view of the involvement of NETs in both homeostasis and several pathologies, our findings are of broad relevance.

Global histone modification analysis reveals hypoacetylated H3 and H4 histones in B Cells from systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

OBJECTIVE: Histone modification is an epigenetic alteration which either activates or suppresses gene transcription. Studies revealed the association of altered global histone modification in T cells and monocytes with the pathogenesis of Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Herein, we investigated the level of global histone 3 (H3) and histone 4 (H4) acetylation in B cells of SLE patients. METHODS: Total 20 SLE patients and 10 healthy donors were recruited. Global H3 and H4 acetylation in B cells was assessed by Epigentek assay kits. Expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in B cells was analyzed by staining cells with anti-CD19/20 and anti-DNMT1 antibody. The concentration of BAFF and APRIL was measured using LegendPlex Human B cells panel and circulating ANAs were determined using indirect immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Compared to healthy donors, B cells from SLE patients were found to be hypoacetylated on both H3 and H4 histones together with a decrease in the expression of DNMT1. Indeed, stratification of SLE patients on the basis of disease activity did not show any variation, as the amount of H3 and H4 acetylation in both inactive and active SLE patients was almost uniform. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that SLE-B cells were manifested with aberrant histone acetylation levels.

Chromatin and transcription factor profiling in rare stem cell populations using CUT&Tag.

Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are a rare stem cell population that provides myofibers with a remarkable capacity to regenerate after tissue injury. Here, we have adapted the Cleavage Under Target and Tagmentation technology to the mapping of the chromatin landscape and transcription factor binding in 50,000 activated MuSCs isolated from injured mouse hindlimb muscles. We have applied this same approach to human CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. This protocol could be adapted to any rare stem cell population. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Robinson et al. (2021).

Multiple Sclerosis: Enzymatic Cross Site-Specific Hydrolysis of H1 Histone by IgGs against H1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4 Histones, and Myelin Basic Protein.

Histones play a key role in chromatin remodeling and gene transcription. Further, free histones in the blood act as damage-associated molecules. Administration of histones to animals results in systemic inflammatory and toxic effects. Myelin basic protein is the principal constituent element of the myelin-proteolipid sheath of axons. Abzymes (antibodies with catalytic activities) are the original features of some autoimmune diseases. In this study, electrophoretically homogeneous IgGs against H1, H2A, H2B, H3, and H4 histones and myelin basic protein (MBP) were isolated from the blood sera of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients by several affinity chromatographies. Using MALDI mass spectrometry, the sites of H1 histone cleavage by IgGs against H1, H2A, H2B, H3, H4, and MBP were determined. It was shown that IgGs against H1 split H1 at 12 sites, while the number of cleavage sites by abzymes against other histones was lower: H2A (9), H2B (7), H3 (3), and H4 (3). The minimum rate of H1 hydrolysis was observed for antibodies against H3 and H4. A high rate of hydrolysis and the maximum number of H1 hydrolysis sites (17) were found for antibodies against MBP. Only a few sites of H1 hydrolysis by anti-H1 antibodies coincided with those for IgGs against H2A, H2B, H3, H4, and MBP. Thus, the polyreactivity of complexation and the enzymatic cross-activity of antibodies against H1, four other histones, and MBP have first been shown. Since histones act as damage molecules, abzymes against histones and MBP can play a negative role in the pathogenesis of MS and probably other different diseases as well.

Differential Regulation of Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern Release in a Mouse Model of Skeletal Muscle Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

Background: Skeletal muscle ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is an important clinical issue that can cause remote organ injury. Although its pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated, recent studies have suggested that damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are mediators of remote organ injury in sterile inflammation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible involvement of DAMPs, including the nuclear proteins high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and histone H3, in the pathogenesis of skeletal muscle I/R injury in mice. Methods: Hindlimb ischemia was induced in mice through bilateral ligation of inguinal regions using rubber grommets. Reperfusion was induced by cutting the rubber grommets after 2-12 h of ischemic period. Survival rates, localization of HMGB1 and histone H3 in the gastrocnemius muscle, and circulating HMGB1 and histone H3 levels were analyzed. The effect of anti-HMGB1 and anti-histone H3 antibodies on survival was analyzed in mice with I/R injury. Results: All mice with hindlimb ischemia survived for at least 36 h, while all mice died within 24 h if the hindlimbs were reperfused after ischemia for 4-12 h. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that HMGB1 translocated from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in the ischemic gastrocnemius muscle, while histone H3 was confined to the nucleus. Accordingly, serum HMGB1 levels were significantly elevated in mice with hindlimb I/R compared with normal mice or mice with hindlimb ischemia (P < 0.05). Serum histone H3 levels were not elevated after I/R. Treatment with anti-HMGB1 antibodies significantly improved survival of mice with hindlimb I/R injury compared with control antibodies (P < 0.05). Conclusions: HMGB1, but not histone H3, translocated to the cytoplasm during skeletal muscle ischemia, and was released into the systemic circulation after reperfusion in mice with I/R injury. Treatment with anti-HMGB1 antibodies partially improved survival.

Butyrate directly decreases human gut lamina propria CD4 T cell function through histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition and GPR43 signaling.

An important function of the gut microbiome is the fermentation of non-digestible dietary fibers into short chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The three primary SCFAs: acetate, propionate, and butyrate, are key mediators of metabolism and immune cell function in the gut mucosa. We previously demonstrated that butyrate at high concentrations decreased human gut lamina propria (LP) CD4 T cell activation in response to enteric bacteria exposure in vitro. However, to date, the mechanism by which butyrate alters human gut LP CD4 T cell activation remains unknown. In this current study, we sought to better understand how exposure to SCFAs across a concentration range impacted human gut LP CD4 T cell function and activation. LP CD4 T cells were directly activated with T cell receptor (TCR) beads in vitro in the presence of a physiologic concentration range of each of the primary SCFAs. Exposure to butyrate potently inhibited CD4 T cell activation, proliferation, and cytokine (IFNγ, IL-17) production in a concentration dependent manner. Butyrate decreased the proliferation and cytokine production of T helper (Th) 1, Th17 and Th22 cells, with differences noted in the sensitivity of LP versus peripheral blood Th cells to butyrate's effects. Higher concentrations of propionate and acetate relative to butyrate were required to inhibit CD4 T cell activation and proliferation. Butyrate directly increased the acetylation of both unstimulated and TCR-stimulated CD4 T cells, and apicidin, a Class I histone deacetylase inhibitor, phenocopied butyrate's effects on CD4 T cell proliferation and activation. GPR43 agonism phenocopied butyrate's effect on CD4 T cell proliferation whereas a GPR109a agonist did not. Our findings indicate that butyrate decreases in vitro human gut LP CD4 T cell activation, proliferation, and inflammatory cytokine production more potently than other SCFAs, likely through butyrate's ability to increase histone acetylation, and potentially via signaling through GPR43. These findings have relevance in furthering our understanding of how perturbations of the gut microbiome alter local immune responses in the gut mucosa.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) in Severe SARS-CoV-2 Lung Disease.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), built from mitochondrial or nuclear DNA, proteinases, and histones, entrap and eliminate pathogens in the course of bacterial or viral infections. Neutrophils' activation and the formation of NETs have been described as major risk factors for acute lung injury, multi-organ damage, and mortality in COVID-19 disease. NETs-related lung injury involves both epithelial and endothelial cells, as well as the alveolar-capillary barrier. The markers for NETs formation, such as circulating DNA, neutrophil elastase (NE) activity, or myeloperoxidase-DNA complexes, were found in lung specimens of COVID-19 victims, as well as in sera and tracheal aspirates obtained from COVID-19 patients. DNA threads form large conglomerates causing local obstruction of the small bronchi and together with NE are responsible for overproduction of mucin by epithelial cells. Various components of NETs are involved in the pathogenesis of cytokine storm in SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary disease. NETs are responsible for the interplay between inflammation and thrombosis in the affected lungs. The immunothrombosis, stimulated by NETs, has a poor prognostic significance. Better understanding of the role of NETs in the course of COVID-19 can help to develop novel approaches to the therapeutic interventions in this condition.

WDR5-H3K4me3 epigenetic axis regulates OPN expression to compensate PD-L1 function to promote pancreatic cancer immune escape.

BACKGROUND: Despite PD-L1 (Programmed death receptor ligand-1) expression on tumor cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes tumor infiltration in the tumor microenvironment, human pancreatic cancer stands out as one of the human cancers that does not respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy. Epigenome dysregulation has emerged as a major mechanism in T cell exhaustion and non-response to ICI immunotherapy, we, therefore, aimed at testing the hypothesis that an epigenetic mechanism compensates PD-L1 function to render pancreatic cancer non-response to ICI immunotherapy. METHODS: Two orthotopic pancreatic tumor mouse models were used for chromatin immunoprecipitation-Seq and RNA-Seq to identify genome-wide dysregulation of H3K4me3 and gene expression. Human pancreatic tumor and serum were analyzed for osteopontin (OPN) protein level and for correlation with patient prognosis. OPN and PD-L1 cellular location were determined in the tumors using flow cytometry. The function of WDR5-H3K4me3 axis in OPN expression were determined by Western blotting. The function of H3K4me3-OPN axis in pancreatic cancer immune escape and response to ICI immunotherapy was determined in an orthotopic pancreatic tumor mouse model. RESULTS: Mouse pancreatic tumors have a genome-wide increase in H3K4me3 deposition as compared with normal pancreas. OPN and its receptor CD44 were identified being upregulated in pancreatic tumors by their promoter H3K4me3 deposition. OPN protein is increased in both tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in human pancreatic carcinoma and is inversely correlated with pancreatic cancer patient survival. OPN is primarily expressed in tumor cells and monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs), whereas PD-L1 is expressed in tumor cells, M-MDSCs, polymorphonuclear MDSCs and tumor-associated macrophages. WDR5 is essential for H3K4me3-specific histone methyltransferase activity that regulates OPN expression in tumor cells and MDSCs. Inhibition of WDR5 significantly decreased OPN protein level. Inhibition of WDR5 or knocking out of OPN suppressed orthotopic mouse pancreatic tumor growth. Inhibition of WDR5 also significantly increased efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in suppression of mouse pancreatic tumor growth in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: OPN compensates PD-L1 function to promote pancreatic cancer immune escape. Pharmacological inhibition of the WDR5-H3K4me3 epigenetic axis is effective in suppressing pancreatic tumor immune escape and in improving efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer.

Role of Dot1L and H3K79 methylation in regulating somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes.

Somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class-switch recombination (CSR) of the immunoglobulin (Ig) genes allow B cells to make antibodies that protect us against a wide variety of pathogens. SHM is mediated by activation-induced deaminase (AID), occurs at a million times higher frequency than other mutations in the mammalian genome, and is largely restricted to the variable (V) and switch (S) regions of Ig genes. Using the Ramos human Burkitt's lymphoma cell line, we find that H3K79me2/3 and its methyltransferase Dot1L are more abundant on the V region than on the constant (C) region, which does not undergo mutation. In primary naïve mouse B cells examined ex vivo, the H3K79me2/3 modification appears constitutively in the donor Sµ and is inducible in the recipient Sγ1 upon CSR stimulation. Knockout and inhibition of Dot1L in Ramos cells significantly reduces V region mutation and the abundance of H3K79me2/3 on the V region and is associated with a decrease of polymerase II (Pol II) and its S2 phosphorylated form at the IgH locus. Knockout of Dot1L also decreases the abundance of BRD4 and CDK9 (a subunit of the P-TEFb complex) on the V region, and this is accompanied by decreased nascent transcripts throughout the IgH gene. Treatment with JQ1 (inhibitor of BRD4) or DRB (inhibitor of CDK9) decreases SHM and the abundance of Pol II S2P at the IgH locus. Since all these factors play a role in transcription elongation, our studies reinforce the idea that the chromatin context and dynamics of transcription are critical for SHM.

Histone deficiency and accelerated replication stress in T cell aging.

With increasing age, individuals are more vulnerable to viral infections such as with influenza or the SARS-CoV-2 virus. One age-associated defect in human T cells is the reduced expression of miR-181a. miR-181ab1 deficiency in peripheral murine T cells causes delayed viral clearance after infection, resembling human immune aging. Here we show that naive T cells from older individuals as well as miR-181ab1-deficient murine T cells develop excessive replication stress after activation, due to reduced histone expression and delayed S-phase cell cycle progression. Reduced histone expression was caused by the miR-181a target SIRT1 that directly repressed transcription of histone genes by binding to their promoters and reducing histone acetylation. Inhibition of SIRT1 activity or SIRT1 silencing increased histone expression, restored cell cycle progression, diminished the replication-stress response, and reduced the production of inflammatory mediators in replicating T cells from old individuals. Correspondingly, treatment with SIRT1 inhibitors improved viral clearance in mice with miR-181a-deficient T cells after LCMV infection. In conclusion, SIRT1 inhibition may be beneficial to treat systemic viral infection in older individuals by targeting antigen-specific T cells that develop replication stress due to miR-181a deficiency.

Conserved human effector Treg cell transcriptomic and epigenetic signature in arthritic joint inflammation.

Treg cells are critical regulators of immune homeostasis, and environment-driven Treg cell differentiation into effector (e)Treg cells is crucial for optimal functioning. However, human Treg cell programming in inflammation is unclear. Here, we combine transcriptional and epigenetic profiling to identify a human eTreg cell signature. Inflammation-derived functional Treg cells have a transcriptional profile characterized by upregulation of both a core Treg cell (FOXP3, CTLA4, TIGIT) and effector program (GITR, BLIMP-1, BATF). We identify a specific human eTreg cell signature that includes the vitamin D receptor (VDR) as a predicted regulator in eTreg cell differentiation. H3K27ac/H3K4me1 occupancy indicates an altered (super-)enhancer landscape, including enrichment of the VDR and BATF binding motifs. The Treg cell profile has striking overlap with tumor-infiltrating Treg cells. Our data demonstrate that human inflammation-derived Treg cells acquire a conserved and specific eTreg cell profile guided by epigenetic changes, and fine-tuned by environment-specific adaptations.