Inhibition of the JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway in Regulatory T Cells Reveals a Very Dynamic Regulation of Foxp3 Expression

PLoS One. 2016 Apr 14;11(4):e0153682. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153682. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

The IL-2/JAK3/STAT-5 signaling pathway is involved on the initiation and maintenance of the transcription factor Foxp3 in regulatory T cells (Treg) and has been associated with demethylation of the intronic Conserved Non Coding Sequence-2 (CNS2). However, the role of the JAK/STAT pathway in controlling Foxp3 in the short term has been poorly investigated. Using two different JAK/STAT pharmacological inhibitors, we observed a detectable loss of Foxp3 after 10 min. of treatment that affected 70% of the cells after one hour. Using cycloheximide, a general inhibitor of mRNA translation, we determined that Foxp3, but not CD25, has a high turnover in IL-2 stimulated Treg. This reduction was correlated with a rapid reduction of Foxp3 mRNA. This loss of Foxp3 was associated with a loss in STAT-5 binding to the CNS2, which however remains demethylated. Consequently, Foxp3 expression returns to normal level upon restoration of basal JAK/STAT signaling in vivo. Reduced expression of several genes defining Treg identity was also observed upon treatment. Thus, our results demonstrate that Foxp3 has a rapid turn over in Treg partly controlled at the transcriptional level by the JAK/STAT pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA Methylation / drug effects
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Introns / genetics
  • Janus Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Janus Kinase 3 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / cytology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism

Substances

  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Janus Kinase 3

Grants and funding

This study was funded by grants from the ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche), the AFM (Association Francaise contre les Myopathies) and the ANRS (Agence Nationale pour la Recherche contre le SIDA). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.