Hyperactivating EZH2 to augment H3K27me3 levels in regulatory T cells enhances immune suppression by driving early effector differentiation

Abstract

The immunosuppressive function of regulatory T (Treg) cells is essential for maintaining immune homeostasis. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) methyltransferase, plays a key role in maintaining Treg cell function upon CD28 co-stimulation, and Ezh2 deletion in Treg cells causes autoimmunity. Here, we assess whether increasing H3K27me3 levels, by using an Ezh2^Y641F gain-of-function mutation, will improve Treg cell function. We find that Treg cells expressing Ezh2^Y641F display an effector Treg phenotype, are poised for improved homing to organ tissues, and can accelerate remission from autoimmunity. The H3K27me3 landscape and transcriptome of naive Ezh2^Y641F Treg cells exhibit a redistribution of H3K27me3 modifications that recapitulates the gene expression profile of activated Ezh2^WT Treg cells after CD28 co-stimulation. Altogether, increased H3K27me3 levels promote the differentiation of effector Treg cells that can better suppress autoimmunity.

Keywords: CP: Immunology; EZH2; autoimmunity; epigenetics; regulatory T cells.