Review
Immunology
Eric Y. Helm, Liang Zhou
Summary: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that plays a role in immune cell environmental sensing. It regulates the development and function of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and their adaptive T cell counterparts. Both ILCs and T cells share some core transcription factors and effector molecules, but they have both shared and distinct mechanisms of regulation by Ahr. This review highlights the latest findings on Ahr's transcriptional regulation of ILCs and T cells, focusing on the shared and distinct mechanisms.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Yime Zhang, Luni Hu, Guanqun Ren, Yanyu Zeng, Xingyu Zhao, Chao Zhong
Summary: This study compared the transcriptomes of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and CD4+ T helper (Th) cells using bulk RNA-sequencing data and identified gene sets that distinguish ILCs from Th cells and different immune responses. Chromatin accessibility analysis revealed that ILCs rely more on specific transcriptional regulation at promoter regions compared to Th cells. Additionally, ILCs and Th cells are under differential transcriptional regulation, with ILCs being regulated by multiple transcription factors such as ROR alpha, GATA3, and NF-kappa B, while Th cells are regulated by AP-1. These findings highlight the substantial distinctions in regulatory machineries between ILCs and Th cells, providing a comprehensive understanding of their unique roles during immune responses.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengyuan Wang, Qian Li, Lingbo Liu
Summary: Gene expression regulation involves multiple processes and various regulatory factors. This review provides an overview of key factors involved in gene expression regulation, such as transcription factors, chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, DNA methylation, and RNA modifications. Additionally, methods for detecting these regulatory factors are also described.
Review
Oncology
Siwei Deng, Yuliang Feng, Siim Pauklin
Summary: This review discusses the importance of three-dimensional chromatin structures in biological processes and diseases, as well as the key structural protein elements involved in chromatin interactions. The recent development of technologies and bioinformatics approaches for studying chromatin interactions in gene expression regulation is also summarized.
JOURNAL OF HEMATOLOGY & ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Dermatology
Ramile Dilshat, Hong Nhung Vu, Eirikur Steingrimsson
Summary: Melanocytes originate in the neural crest, migrate and proliferate before differentiating into pigment-producing cells, determining color and protecting against UV radiation; their lineage is regulated by transcription factors and signaling pathways, with epigenetic modifiers and replacement histones playing key roles in this process.
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Theresia Watzlowik, Sujaan Das, Markus Meissner, Gernot Laengst
Summary: The gene transcription regulation of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum is governed by complex epigenetic mechanisms involving chromatin structure and dynamics. The high AT-content of the parasite genome and sequence divergence of chromatin-related proteins suggest significant differences in chromatin-dependent regulation compared to other eukaryotes. Specialized chromatin remodeling enzymes play an essential role in gene regulation in P. falciparum.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dakota L. Jones, Grey F. Hallstroem, Xi Jiang, Ryan C. Locke, Mary Kate Evans, Edward D. Bonnevie, Anjana Srikumar, Thomas P. Leahy, Madhura P. Nijsure, Joel D. Boerckel, Robert L. Mauck, Nathaniel A. Dyment
Summary: Cells integrate mechanical cues to maintain tissue function and homeostasis, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This study shows that loss of tensile cues changes nuclear morphology, positioning, and gene expression, resulting in weakening of tendons.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tao Jiang, Tianshuang Xia, Fangliang Qiao, Nani Wang, Yiping Jiang, Hailiang Xin
Summary: Bones serve mechanical and defensive functions, as well as regulating calcium ions and housing bone marrow. The qualities of bones fluctuate throughout life, with functions increasing in some situations while deteriorating in others. Excessive osteoclast differentiation can lead to various bone pathologies, and the transcription factors and developmental/environmental signals play crucial roles in this process.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Difeng Fang, Ayanna Healy, Jinfang Zhu
Summary: CD4 T helper (Th) cell subsets and their innate counterparts innate lymphoid cell (ILC) subsets display similar effector cytokine-producing capabilities during immune responses. The differentiation, development, and functions of these lymphoid cell subsets are regulated by lineage-determining transcription factors (LDTFs). This review discusses the functions of cis-regulatory elements in inducing LDTF expression during Th cell differentiation and ILC development, as well as the upstream signals involved in LDTF induction in vitro and in vivo. The possible mechanisms and physiological importance of regulating LDTF dynamic expression during ILC development and activation are also explored.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jason H. Brickner
Summary: This article discusses the mechanisms by which histone modifications can be inherited and relates them to the phenomenon of epigenetic transcriptional memory. Recent studies have found that the histone H3 lysine 4 dimethylation associated with this memory plays a critical role in sustaining memory and can be stably maintained through multiple mitoses. This chromatin-mediated inheritance mechanism involves a physical interaction between an H3K4me2 reader, SET3C, and an H3K4me2 writer, Spp1(-) COMPASS. This is the first example of chromatin-mediated inheritance of a mark that promotes transcription.
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Angeliki Ntorla, Joseph Robert Burgoyne
Summary: Histone crotonylation is a newly identified epigenetic modification that regulates gene expression and is functionally distinct from histone acetylation, potentially regulating cellular metabolic status through competition for modification sites. It plays diverse functional roles within the cell, including signal-dependent gene activation, spermatogenesis, and tissue injury.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Samuel N. Bogan, Marie E. Strader, Gretchen E. Hofmann
Summary: This study investigates the effects of DNA methylation on gene expression and splicing in the larvae of the purple sea urchin. It finds that differential gene body methylation has stronger effects on gene expression among genes with poorly accessible transcriptional start sites, and the baseline transcript abundance influences the direction of this effect. Considering the interactions between methylation and chromatin accessibility, the transcriptional responses to maternal conditioning are significantly increased, suggesting that the relationship between methylation and gene regulation is partially explained by chromatin state.
Review
Immunology
Xiao Wang, Huawei Xia, Shengde Liu, Lili Cao, Fuping You
Summary: The emergence of life-threatening viruses poses challenges to public health, with epigenetics playing a crucial role in host-virus interactions. Understanding these interactions through an epigenetic lens may offer therapeutic opportunities. This review discusses the roles of chromatin remodeling, histone modification, and m6A RNA modification in modulating chromatin openness during host defense against viruses, highlighting the need for future research in this area.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Nilisha Fernando, Giuseppe Sciume, John J. O'Shea, Han-Yu Shih
Summary: This study focuses on unraveling the regulatory mechanisms of cytokine production in ILCs and T cells, including DNA methylation, transcription factor binding, histone modification, and other epigenetic mechanisms. ILCs are programmed to rapidly respond to environmental signals in a polarized manner without the need for T cell receptor signaling.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eve Blanquart, Sophie Laffont, Jean-Charles Guery
Summary: Sex steroid hormones regulate the development, maintenance, and effector functions of ILCs, impacting tissue-specific immunity. Understanding these hormone actions on ILCs is crucial for uncovering sexual disparity in human diseases and potential new drug development for chronic inflammatory diseases or cancers.
BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joyce Chen, Isaac F. Lopez-Moyado, Hyungseok Seo, Chan-Wang J. Lio, Laura J. Hempleman, Takashi Sekiya, Akihiko Yoshimura, James P. Scott-Browne, Anjana Rao
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaojing Yue, Chan-Wang J. Lio, Daniela Samaniego-Castruita, Xiang Li, Anjana Rao
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2019)
Article
Immunology
Chan-Wang J. Lio, Vipul Shukla, Daniela Samaniego-Castruita, Edahi Gonzalez-Avalos, Abhijit Chakraborty, Xiaojing Yue, David G. Schatz, Ferhat Ay, Anjana Rao
SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY
(2019)
Review
Hematology
Chan-Wang J. Lio, Hiroshi Yuita, Anjana Rao
Review
Biology
Chan-Wang J. Lio, Xiaojing Yue, Isaac F. Lopez-Moyado, Mamta Tahiliani, L. Aravind, Anjana Rao
JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCES
(2020)
Review
Immunology
Chan-Wang Jerry Lio, Stanley Ching-Cheng Huang
Article
Immunology
Mariko Takahashi, Chan-Wang J. Lio, Anaamika Campeau, Martin Steger, Ferhat Ay, Matthias Mann, David J. Gonzalez, Mohit Jain, Sonia Sharma
Summary: In this study, Sharma and colleagues identified DAPK3 as a positive regulator of the STING-interferon-beta activation pathway, essential for driving tumor-intrinsic innate immunity and tumor immune surveillance. Loss of DAPK3 expression or kinase activity impaired STING activation, reduced infiltration of immune cells, and attenuated the response to cancer chemo-immunotherapy. DAPK3 coordinates post-translational modification of STING and is critical for maintaining STING activation and immune response against tumors.
Article
Immunology
Hyungseok Seo, Edahi Gonzalez-Avalos, Wade Zhang, Payal Ramchandani, Chao Yang, Chan-Wang J. Lio, Anjana Rao, Patrick G. Hogan
Summary: BATF and IRF4 cooperate to counter T cell exhaustion in mouse tumor models, promoting better tumor control by CAR T cells.
Review
Immunology
Heng-Yi Chen, Michael Hsu, Chan-Wang Jerry Lio
Summary: Micronutrients are essential for survival and their deficiency can lead to weakened immune responses. Recent studies suggest that micronutrients may regulate adaptive immune responses by influencing epigenetic remodeling.
IMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Lydia N. Raines, Haoxin Zhao, Yuzhu Wang, Heng-Yi Chen, Hector Gallart-Ayala, Pei-Chun Hsueh, Wei Cao, Yeojung Koh, Ana Alamonte-Loya, Pu-Ste Liu, Julijana Ivanisevic, Chan-Wang Jerry Lio, Ping-Chih Ho, Stanley Ching-Cheng Huang
Summary: This study reveals the importance of PERK signaling and PSAT1-mediated serine metabolism in promoting the immunosuppressive function of M2 macrophages, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms of immune cell suppressive phenotype.
Article
Biology
Heng-Yi Chen, Ana Almonte-Loya, Fang-Yun Lay, Michael Hsu, Eric Johnson, Edahi Gonzalez-Avalos, Jieyun Yin, Richard S. Bruno, Qin Ma, Hazem E. Ghoneim, Daniel J. Wozniak, Fiona E. Harrison, Chan-Wang Jerry Lio
Summary: Vitamin C is an essential micronutrient that enhances antibody response by promoting plasma cell differentiation through IL-21/STAT3 signaling pathway. As a cofactor for epigenetic enzymes, it facilitates DNA modification and demethylation, thereby influencing gene expression and cell fate decisions in the immune system.
Article
Oncology
Brian M. Reilly, Timothy Luger, Soo Park, Chan-Wang Jerry Lio, Edahi Gonzalez-Avalos, Emily C. Wheeler, Minjung Lee, Laura Williamson, Tiffany Tanaka, Dinh Diep, Kun Zhang, Yun Huang, Anjana Rao, Rafael Bejar
Summary: Mutations in the DNA methylation regulating gene TET2 are associated with response to DNA methyltransferase inhibitors, but the exact mechanisms are still unknown. TET2 loss influences DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation patterns at erythroid gene enhancers during 5-Aza treatment, leading to downregulation of erythroid gene expression. Treatment with 5-Aza disproportionately induces expression of down-regulated genes in TET2KO cells, with dynamic 5mC changes at erythroid gene enhancers playing a key role.
MOLECULAR CANCER RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Chan-Wang J. Lio, Anjana Rao
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2019)
Review
Cell Biology
James P. Scott-Browne, C. W. Lio, Anjana Rao
CURRENT OPINION IN GENETICS & DEVELOPMENT
(2017)