A unique DNA methylation signature defines a population of IFN‐γ/IL‐4 double‐positive T cells during helminth infection. Issue 6 (25th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Deaton, Aimée M.; Cook, Peter C.; De Sousa, Dina; Phythian‐Adams, Alexander T.; Bird, Adrian; MacDonald, Andrew S.
• Is Part Of: European journal of immunology. Volume 44:Issue 6(2014:Jun.)
• Page Start: 1835
• Page End: 1841
• Publication Date: 2014-03-25
• Subjects: Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.201344098
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-2980

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Th1 and Th2 cell fates are traditionally viewed as mutually exclusive, but recent work suggests that these lineages may be more plastic than previously thought. When isolating splenic CD4⁺ T cells from mice infected with the parasitic helminth <italic>Schistosoma mansoni</italic>, we observed a defined population of IFN‐γ/IL‐4 double‐positive cells. These IFN‐γ⁺IL‐4⁺ cells showed differences in DNA methylation at the <italic>Ifng</italic> and <italic>Il4</italic> loci when compared with IFN‐γ⁺IL‐4⁻ (Th1) and IFN‐γ⁻IL‐4⁺ (Th2) cells, demonstrating that they represent a distinct effector cell population. IFN‐γ⁺IL‐4⁺ cells also displayed a discrete DNA methylation pattern at a CpG island within the body of the <italic>Gata3</italic> gene, which encodes the master regulator of Th2 identity. DNA methylation at this region correlated with decreased Gata3 levels, suggesting a possible role in controlling Gata3 expression. These data provide important insight into the molecular mechanisms behind the co‐existence of Th1 and Th2 characteristics.</p> </abstract>