A specific CpG site demethylation in the human interleukin 2 gene promoter is an epigenetic memory

EMBO J. 2006 Mar 8;25(5):1081-92. doi: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601012. Epub 2006 Feb 23.

Abstract

DNA demethylation plays a critical role in transcriptional regulation in differentiated somatic cells. However, there is no experimental evidence that CpG methylation in a small region of a genome restricts gene expression. Here, we show that the anti-CD3repsilon/CD28 antibody stimulation of human CD4+ T cells induces IL2 expression following epigenetic changes, including active demethylation of a specific CpG site, recruitment of Oct-1, and changes in histone modifications. When the stimulatory signal is withdrawn, Oct-1 remains on the enhancer region as a stable marker of the stimulation, causing the second induction to be faster and stronger. Our observations indicate that Oct-1-binding followed by CpG demethylation are key events in the epigenetic regulation of IL2 expression and may act as a memory of the regulatory event.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • CD28 Antigens / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • CpG Islands*
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Enhancer Elements, Genetic
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-2 / genetics*
  • Jurkat Cells / metabolism
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-1 / genetics
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-1 / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • CD28 Antigens
  • Histones
  • Interleukin-2
  • Octamer Transcription Factor-1