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Methyltransferase Dot1l preferentially promotes innate IL-6 and IFN-β production by mediating H3K79me2/3 methylation in macrophages

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 17, pages 76–84 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Epigenetic modification, including histone modification, precisely controls target gene expression. The posttranscriptional regulation of the innate signaling-triggered production of inflammatory cytokines and type I interferons has been fully elucidated, whereas the roles of histone modification alteration and epigenetic modifiers in regulating inflammatory responses need to be further explored. Di/tri-methylation modifications of histone 3 lysine 79 (H3K79me2/3) have been shown to be associated with gene transcriptional activation. Disruptor of telomeric silencing-1-like (Dot1l) is the only known exclusive H3K79 methyltransferase and regulates the proliferation and differentiation of tumor cells. However, the roles of Dot1l and Dot1l-mediated H3K79 methylation in innate immunity and inflammatory responses remain unclear. Here, we found that H3K79me2/3 modification levels at the Il6 and Ifnb1 promoters, as well as H3K79me2 modification at the Tnfα promoter, were increased in macrophages activated by Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands or virus infection. The innate signals upregulated Dot1l expression in macrophages and THP1 cells. Dot1l silencing or a Dot1l inhibitor preferentially suppressed the production of IL-6 and interferon (IFN)-β but not of TNF-α in macrophages and THP1 cells triggered by TLR ligands or virus infection. Dot1l was recruited to the proximal promoter of the Il6 and Ifnb1 but not Tnfα gene and then mediated H3K79me2/3 modification at the Il6 and Ifnb1 promoters, consequently facilitating the transcription and expression of Il6 and Ifnb1. Thus, Dot1l-mediated selective H3K79me2/3 modifications at the Il6 and Ifnb1 promoters are required for the full activation of innate immune responses. This finding adds new insights into the epigenetic regulation of inflammatory responses and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mrs X. Sun and M. Jin for technical assistance. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81788101, 31570871, 31770970), CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (2016-12M-1-003) and the National Key Basic Research Program of China (2015CB964403).

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  1. These authors contributed equally: Xiang Chen, Xingguang Liu, Yunkai Zhang

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology & Institute of Immunology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Xiang Chen, Xingguang Liu, Yunkai Zhang, Qingqing Zhou, Sheng Xu, Nan Li & Xuetao Cao

  2. Institute of Immunology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Wanwan Huai, Xi Chen & Xuetao Cao

  3. Department of Immunology & Center for Immunotherapy, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100005, China

    Xuetao Cao

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Chen, X., Liu, X., Zhang, Y. et al. Methyltransferase Dot1l preferentially promotes innate IL-6 and IFN-β production by mediating H3K79me2/3 methylation in macrophages. Cell Mol Immunol 17, 76–84 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41423-018-0170-4

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