Blimp-1 attenuates Th1 differentiation by repression of ifng, tbx21, and bcl6 gene expression

L Cimmino, GA Martins, J Liao… - The Journal of …, 2008 - journals.aai.org
L Cimmino, GA Martins, J Liao, E Magnusdottir, G Grunig, RK Perez, KL Calame
The Journal of Immunology, 2008journals.aai.org
T cell-specific deletion of Blimp-1 causes abnormal T cell homeostasis and function, leading
to spontaneous, fatal colitis in mice. Herein we explore the role of Blimp-1 in Th1/Th2
differentiation. Blimp-1 mRNA and protein are more highly expressed in Th2 cells compared
with Th1 cells, and Blimp-1 attenuates IFN-γ production in CD4 cells activated under
nonpolarizing conditions. Although Blimp-1-deficient T cells differentiate normally to Th2
cytokines in vitro, Blimp-1 is required in vivo for normal Th2 humoral responses to NP-KLH …
Abstract
T cell-specific deletion of Blimp-1 causes abnormal T cell homeostasis and function, leading to spontaneous, fatal colitis in mice. Herein we explore the role of Blimp-1 in Th1/Th2 differentiation. Blimp-1 mRNA and protein are more highly expressed in Th2 cells compared with Th1 cells, and Blimp-1 attenuates IFN-γ production in CD4 cells activated under nonpolarizing conditions. Although Blimp-1-deficient T cells differentiate normally to Th2 cytokines in vitro, Blimp-1 is required in vivo for normal Th2 humoral responses to NP-KLH (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl/keyhole lymphocyte hemocyanin) immunization. Lack of Blimp-1 in CD4 T cells causes increased IFN-γ, T-bet, and Bcl-6 mRNA. By chromatin immunoprecipitation we show that Blimp-1 binds directly to a distal regulatory region in the ifng gene and at multiple sites in tbx21 and bcl6 genes. Our data provide evidence that Blimp-1 functions in Th2 cells to reinforce Th2 differentiation by repressing critical Th1 genes.
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