Inhibition of suppressive T cell factor 1 (TCF-1) isoforms in naive CD4+ T cells is mediated by IL-4/STAT6 signaling

J Biol Chem. 2011 Jan 14;286(2):919-28. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M110.144949. Epub 2010 Oct 27.

Abstract

The Wnt pathway transcription factor T cell factor 1 (TCF-1) plays essential roles in the control of several developmental processes, including T cell development in the thymus. Although previously regarded as being required only during early T cell development, recent studies demonstrate an important role for TCF-1 in T helper 2 (Th2) cell polarization. TCF-1 was shown to activate expression of the Th2 transcription factor GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) and thus to promote the development of IL-4-producing Th2 cells independent of STAT6 signaling. In this study, we show that TCF-1 is down-regulated in human naive CD4(+) T cells cultured under Th2-polarizing conditions. The down-regulation is largely due to the polarizing cytokine IL-4 because IL-4 alone is sufficient to substantially inhibit TCF-1 expression. The IL-4-induced suppression of TCF-1 is mediated by STAT6, as shown by electrophoretic mobility shift assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and STAT6 knockdown experiments. Moreover, we found that IL-4/STAT6 predominantly inhibits the shorter, dominant-negative TCF-1 isoforms, which were reported to inhibit IL-4 transcription. Thus, this study provides a model for an IL-4/STAT6-dependent fine tuning mechanism of TCF-1-driven T helper cell polarization.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Cell Polarity / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Expression / immunology
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory / immunology
  • Interleukin-4 / immunology
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism*
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / genetics
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / immunology
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / immunology
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • T Cell Transcription Factor 1 / genetics
  • T Cell Transcription Factor 1 / immunology
  • T Cell Transcription Factor 1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
  • Hnf1a protein, mouse
  • IL4 protein, human
  • LEF1 protein, human
  • Lef1 protein, mouse
  • Lymphoid Enhancer-Binding Factor 1
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • STAT6 protein, human
  • Stat6 protein, mouse
  • T Cell Transcription Factor 1
  • TCF7 protein, human
  • Interleukin-4