Transcription Factor KLF2 in Dendritic Cells Downregulates Th2 Programming via the HIF-1α/Jagged2/Notch Axis

ABSTRACT The adaptive immune response is tightly regulated by complex signals in dendritic cells (DCs). Although Th2 polarization is dictated by defined functional DC subsets, the molecular factors that govern the amplitude of these responses are not well understood. Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is...

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Main Authors: Ye Xiong, Jerry B. Lingrel, Marcel Wüthrich, Bruce S. Klein, Neelakantan T. Vasudevan, Mukesh K. Jain, Mariam George, George S. Deepe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2016-07-01
Series:mBio
Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.00436-16
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author Ye Xiong
Jerry B. Lingrel
Marcel Wüthrich
Bruce S. Klein
Neelakantan T. Vasudevan
Mukesh K. Jain
Mariam George
George S. Deepe
author_facet Ye Xiong
Jerry B. Lingrel
Marcel Wüthrich
Bruce S. Klein
Neelakantan T. Vasudevan
Mukesh K. Jain
Mariam George
George S. Deepe
author_sort Ye Xiong
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT The adaptive immune response is tightly regulated by complex signals in dendritic cells (DCs). Although Th2 polarization is dictated by defined functional DC subsets, the molecular factors that govern the amplitude of these responses are not well understood. Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is a transcription factor that negatively regulates the activation of numerous immune cells in response to stimuli. Here, we demonstrate that suppression of KLF2 in conditioned DCs preferentially amplifies Th2 responses in two model systems, one of which is a prototypical intracellular pathogen and the other an allergen. This elevation in Th2 responses was dependent on contact-mediated Notch signaling in vitro and in vivo. A deficiency of KLF2 increased the expression of Notch ligand Jagged2 via hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), which led to Th2 amplification. Our results revealed a novel circuit in DCs for Th2 polarization that is governed by KLF2. IMPORTANCE Dendritic cells are the key element that bridges innate and adaptive immunity. A complex and not-well-understood area in dendritic cell biology is the regulatory network that predetermines or moderates their function to shape the adaptive immune response. Our study for the first time demonstrates that KLF2, a transcription factor, conditions dendritic cells to regulate Th2 responses via a Jagged2/Notch axis. Downregulation of KLF2 expression in dendritic cells may provide a beneficial effect for treatment of diseases such as obesity or parasitic infections but may be deleterious in the case of invasion by intracellular pathogens. Strategies to tune KLF2 may be useful for future therapeutic approaches to particular diseases of mankind.
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spelling doaj.art-c9b2dc4c3d274e30ad71764ba83da4e82022-12-21T23:10:22ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymBio2150-75112016-07-017310.1128/mBio.00436-16Transcription Factor KLF2 in Dendritic Cells Downregulates Th2 Programming via the HIF-1α/Jagged2/Notch AxisYe Xiong0Jerry B. Lingrel1Marcel Wüthrich2Bruce S. Klein3Neelakantan T. Vasudevan4Mukesh K. Jain5Mariam George6George S. Deepe7Program in Pathobiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USADepartment of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry & Microbiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USADepartments of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USADepartments of Pediatrics, Medicine, and Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USACase Cardiovascular Research Institute, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USACase Cardiovascular Research Institute, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USAProgram of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USADivision of Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USAABSTRACT The adaptive immune response is tightly regulated by complex signals in dendritic cells (DCs). Although Th2 polarization is dictated by defined functional DC subsets, the molecular factors that govern the amplitude of these responses are not well understood. Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is a transcription factor that negatively regulates the activation of numerous immune cells in response to stimuli. Here, we demonstrate that suppression of KLF2 in conditioned DCs preferentially amplifies Th2 responses in two model systems, one of which is a prototypical intracellular pathogen and the other an allergen. This elevation in Th2 responses was dependent on contact-mediated Notch signaling in vitro and in vivo. A deficiency of KLF2 increased the expression of Notch ligand Jagged2 via hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), which led to Th2 amplification. Our results revealed a novel circuit in DCs for Th2 polarization that is governed by KLF2. IMPORTANCE Dendritic cells are the key element that bridges innate and adaptive immunity. A complex and not-well-understood area in dendritic cell biology is the regulatory network that predetermines or moderates their function to shape the adaptive immune response. Our study for the first time demonstrates that KLF2, a transcription factor, conditions dendritic cells to regulate Th2 responses via a Jagged2/Notch axis. Downregulation of KLF2 expression in dendritic cells may provide a beneficial effect for treatment of diseases such as obesity or parasitic infections but may be deleterious in the case of invasion by intracellular pathogens. Strategies to tune KLF2 may be useful for future therapeutic approaches to particular diseases of mankind.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.00436-16
spellingShingle Ye Xiong
Jerry B. Lingrel
Marcel Wüthrich
Bruce S. Klein
Neelakantan T. Vasudevan
Mukesh K. Jain
Mariam George
George S. Deepe
Transcription Factor KLF2 in Dendritic Cells Downregulates Th2 Programming via the HIF-1α/Jagged2/Notch Axis
mBio
title Transcription Factor KLF2 in Dendritic Cells Downregulates Th2 Programming via the HIF-1α/Jagged2/Notch Axis
title_full Transcription Factor KLF2 in Dendritic Cells Downregulates Th2 Programming via the HIF-1α/Jagged2/Notch Axis
title_fullStr Transcription Factor KLF2 in Dendritic Cells Downregulates Th2 Programming via the HIF-1α/Jagged2/Notch Axis
title_full_unstemmed Transcription Factor KLF2 in Dendritic Cells Downregulates Th2 Programming via the HIF-1α/Jagged2/Notch Axis
title_short Transcription Factor KLF2 in Dendritic Cells Downregulates Th2 Programming via the HIF-1α/Jagged2/Notch Axis
title_sort transcription factor klf2 in dendritic cells downregulates th2 programming via the hif 1α jagged2 notch axis
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mBio.00436-16
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