Demethylation of the Protein Phosphatase PP2A Promotes Demethylation of Histones to Enable Their Function as a Methyl Group Sink

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Deficiency of Mbd2 attenuates Wnt signaling

We have previously shown that deficiency of the methyl binding domain protein Mbd2 dramatically reduces adenoma burden on an Apc^Min/+ background. To investigate the mechanism underlying this phenomenon, we have determined the effect of Mbd2 deficiency upon the phenotypes imposed by the conditional deletion of Apc in the small intestine. Microarray analysis demonstrated a partial suppression of the Wnt pathway in the absence of Mbd2. Mbd2 deficiency also influenced one immediate cellular consequence of Apc loss, with normalization of Paneth cell positioning. From a mechanistic perspective, we show that deficiency of Mbd2 elevates levels of the known Wnt target Lect2, and we confirm here that Mbd2 binds the Lect2 promoter in association with NuRD. Furthermore, we show that Lect2 is capable of functioning as a Wnt pathway repressor. These results therefore provide a mechanistic basis for the epigenetic control of adenoma formation mediated through Mbd2.     

IL-2 controls the stability of Foxp3 expression in TGF-beta-induced Foxp3+ T cells in vivo

Stimulation of naive mouse CD4(+)Foxp3(-) T cells in the presence of TGF-β results in the induction of Foxp3 expression and T suppressor function. However, Foxp3 expression in these induced regulatory T cells (iTreg) is unstable, raising the possibility that iTreg would not be useful for treatment of autoimmune diseases. To analyze the factors that control the stability of Foxp3 expression in iTreg, we generated OVA-specific iTreg from OT-II Foxp3-GFP knockin mice. Following transfer to normal C57BL/6 mice, OT-II GFP(+) cells maintained high levels of Foxp3 expression for 8 d. However, they rapidly lost Foxp3 expression upon stimulation with OVA in IFA in vivo. This unstable phenotype was associated with a strong methylation of the Treg-specific demethylated region within the Foxp3 locus. Administration of IL-2/anti-IL-2 complexes expanded the numbers of transferred Foxp3(+) iTreg in the absence of Ag challenge. Notably, when the iTreg were stimulated with Ag, treatment with IL-2/anti-IL-2 complexes stabilized Foxp3 expression and resulted in enhanced demethylation of the Treg-specific demethylated region. Conversely, neutralization of IL-2 or disruption of its signaling by deletion of Stat5 diminished the level of Foxp3 expression resulting in decreased suppressor function of the iTreg in vivo. Our data suggest that stimulation with TGF-β in vitro is not sufficient for imprinting T cells with stable expression of Foxp3. Administration of IL-2 in vivo results in stabilization of Foxp3 expression and may prove to be a valuable adjunct for the use of iTreg for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.     

小鼠Foxp3片段的表达和多克隆抗体的制备

克隆了小鼠Foxp3片段,采用基因重组方法,构建重组表达载体pGEX4T1Foxp3。应用在大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中诱导产生的GSTFoxp3融合蛋白免疫家兔,制备兔抗Foxp3多克隆抗体。经过ELISA检测,抗血清的效价达1∶128000;采用Westernblot检测,转染Foxp3MIGR载体的Ψam细胞中表达Foxp3蛋白,而仅转染MIGR空载体的Ψam细胞中为阴性表达,表眀抗体具有特异性。     

An Unusual Demethylation of 3-Methylguanine

Abstract

7-Benzyl-N²-isobutyryl-3-methylguanine undergoes N-3 demethylation when heated in toluene in the presence of 2, 3, 5-tri-O-acetyl-D-ribofuranosyl bromide.     

下调人脐带间充质干细胞Mbd3基因shRNA慢病毒的构建及鉴定

研究构建靶向抑制人Mbd3表达的sh RNA慢病毒颗粒,感染人脐带间充质干细胞并用嘌呤霉素筛选获得Mbd3稳定下调的细胞系,为进一步探讨Mbd3在诱导型多潜能干细胞形成中的作用提供实验基础。研究根据Gene Bank中公布的Mbd3基因序列设计特异性si RNA干扰序列并合成可产生sh RNA的双链DNA,经双酶切后克隆至p LVsh RNA-EGFP(2A)Puro载体上构建慢病毒重组质粒,转化DH5α大肠杆菌PCR检测筛选阳性质粒,利用HEK293Ta包装产生含有Mbd3sh RNA的慢病毒颗粒。通过RT-PCR和Western blot检测慢病毒感染人脐带间充质干细胞(h UC-MSC)后Mbd3的转录和蛋白表达情况,进一步检测重组慢病毒对Mbd3的沉默效果并筛选出最佳抑制效果的sh RNA慢病毒载体。结果显示成功构建并筛选出下调Mbd3的最佳慢病毒干扰载体,慢病毒感染人脐带间充质干细胞48h后于荧光显微镜下可见绿色荧光,经嘌呤霉素筛选9 d后,RT-PCR检测Mbd3表达显著降低,Western blot检测Mbd3蛋白表达明显减少。说明构建的sh RNA重组慢病毒包装成功,具有较高的感染活性,可有效抑制人脐带间充质干细胞Mbd3的表达,为后续研究脐带间充质干细胞跨胚层分化打下前期研究基础。     

Function of the IL-2R for thymic and peripheral CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ T regulatory cells

IL-2 contributes to the production, function, and homeostasis of CD4+CD25+ T(reg) cells. However, it remains uncertain whether IL-2 is essential for the development of T(reg) cells in the thymus, their homeostasis in the periphery, or both. The present study was undertaken to investigate the contribution of IL-2 during thymic T(reg) cell development and its maintenance in peripheral immune tissue. Relying on genetic mouse models where IL-2R signaling was either completely blocked or selectively inhibited in peripheral CD4+CD25+ T(reg) cells, we show that the IL-2/IL-2R interaction is active in the thymus at the earliest stage of the development of T(reg) cells to promote their expansion and to up-regulate Foxp3 and CD25 to normal levels. Furthermore, CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T(reg) cells with impaired IL-2-induced signaling persist in the periphery and control autoimmunity without constant thymic output. These peripheral T(reg) cells with poor responsiveness to IL-2 exhibited slower growth and extended survival in vivo, somewhat lower suppressive activity, and poor IL-2-dependent survival in vitro. Mixed thymic and bone marrow chimeric mice showed that wild-type-derived T(reg) cells were substantially more effective in populating peripheral immune tissue than T(reg) cells with impaired IL-2 signaling. Collectively, these data support the notion that normally IL-2 is a dominant mechanism controlling the number of thymic and peripheral T(reg) cells.     

The splicing isoform Foxp3Δ2 differentially regulates tTreg and pTreg homeostasis

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