The role of PU.1 and IRF4 interaction in the biology and function of T helper 2 cells

Abstract

Adaptive and innate immune responses play a critical role in the protection against extracellular or intracellular pathogens. The function of these two types of immune responses is coordinated by CD4+ T-helper (Th) cells. Depending on the cytokine environment, Th progenitor (Thp) cells differentiate into three functionally different effector subsets. T-helper-1 (Th1) cells which mediate cell-mediated immunity, T-helper-2 (Th2) which orchestrates humoral immunity and T-helper-17 (Th17) cells key players in autoimmunity response. Cytokine induced transcription factors that are differentially expressed in Th cells are required for the development and commitment to a specific Th lineage. The population of Th2 cells can be subdivided in subpopulations depending on the level of a cytokine and the subsets of cytokines they produce. Very limited information is available about the regulation of cytokine production in this array of Th2 cells. We have recently identified the ETS family transcription factor PU.1 as regulating heterogeneity in Th2 populations. To define additional factors that might contribute to Th2 heterogeneity, we examined the PU.1 interacting protein IFN-regulatory factor (IRF)-4, a transcription factor expressed in lymphocytes and macrophages. When Th2 cells are separated based on levels of IL-10 secretion, IRF4 expression segregates into the subset of Th2 cells expressing high levels of IL-10. To investigate the role of IRF4 in cytokine heterogeneity, Th2 cells were infected with retrovirus expressing IRF4. The cells overexpressing IRF4 secreted significantly higher levels of IL-10 and IL-4 compared to cells infected with a control vector at the same time the level of IL-9 decreases. To understand the mechanism by which IRF4 regulates IL-10 expression in various Th2 cell subpopulations we used co-immunoprecipitation assays to determine transcription factors that interact with IRF4. Our data shows that PU.1, IRF4 and NFATc2 form a complex in Th2 nuclear extract. We also demonstrated by ChIP assay that IRF4 directly binds the Il10 and Il4 loci in a time dependent manner. The role of these protein-protein and protein-DNA complexes and their contribution towards Th2 heterogeneity will be further defined. Understanding the regulation of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in Th2 cells may give us a tool to control inflammation.