The histone methyltransferase Ezh2 is a crucial epigenetic regulator of allogeneic T-cell responses mediating graft-versus-host disease

Blood. 2013 Dec 12;122(25):4119-28. doi: 10.1182/blood-2013-05-505180. Epub 2013 Oct 18.

Abstract

Posttranscriptional modification of histones by methylation plays an important role in regulating Ag-driven T-cell responses. We have recently drawn correlations between allogeneic T-cell responses and the histone methyltransferase Ezh2, which catalyzes histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation. The functional relevance of Ezh2 in T-cell alloimmunity remains unclear. Here, we identify a central role of Ezh2 in regulating allogeneic T-cell proliferation, differentiation, and function. Conditional loss of Ezh2 in donor T cells inhibited graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in mice after allogeneic bone marrow (BM) transplantation. Although Ezh2-deficient T cells were initially activated to proliferate upon alloantigenic priming, their ability to undergo continual proliferation and expansion was defective during late stages of GVHD induction. This effect of Ezh2 ablation was largely independent of the proapoptotic molecule Bim. Unexpectedly, as a gene silencer, Ezh2 was required to promote the expression of transcription factors Tbx21 and Stat4. Loss of Ezh2 in T cells specifically impaired their differentiation into interferon (IFN)-γ-producing effector cells. However, Ezh2 ablation retained antileukemia activity in alloreactive T cells, leading to improved overall survival of the recipients. Our findings justify investigation of modulating Ezh2 as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of GVHD and other T cell-mediated inflammatory disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Allografts
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / genetics
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / enzymology*
  • Graft vs Host Disease / genetics
  • Graft vs Host Disease / pathology
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Methylation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / genetics
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • STAT4 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT4 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / enzymology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Bcl-2-Like Protein 11
  • Bcl2l11 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • STAT4 Transcription Factor
  • Stat4 protein, mouse
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Ezh2 protein, mouse
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2