The transcription repressor, ZEB1, cooperates with CtBP2 and HDAC1 to suppress IL-2 gene activation in T cells

Int Immunol. 2009 Mar;21(3):227-35. doi: 10.1093/intimm/dxn143. Epub 2009 Jan 30.

Abstract

Activation of T cells leads to the induction of many cytokine genes that are required for appropriate immune responses, including IL-2, a key cytokine for T cell proliferation and homeostasis. The activating transcription factors such as nuclear factor of activated T cells, nuclear factor kappaB/Rel and activated protein-1 family members that regulate inducible IL-2 gene expression have been well documented. However, negative regulation of the IL-2 gene is less studied. Here we examine the role of zinc finger E-box-binding protein (ZEB) 1, a homeodomain/Zn finger transcription factor, as a repressor of IL-2 gene transcription. We show here that ZEB1 is expressed in non-stimulated and stimulated T cells and using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays we show that ZEB1 binds to the IL-2 promoter. Over-expression of ZEB1 can repress IL-2 promoter activity, as well as endogenous IL-2 mRNA production in EL-4 T cells, and this repression is dependent on the ZEB-binding site at -100. ZEB1 cooperates with the co-repressor C-terminal-binding protein (CtBP) 2 and with histone deacetylase 1 to repress the IL-2 promoter and this cooperation depends on the ZEB-binding site in the promoter as well as the Pro-X-Asp-Leu-Ser protein-protein interaction domain in CtBP2. Thus, ZEB1 may function to recruit a repressor complex to the IL-2 promoter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites / immunology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Feedback, Physiological / genetics
  • Feedback, Physiological / immunology
  • Histone Deacetylase 1
  • Histone Deacetylases / immunology
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / immunology*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • Homeostasis / immunology
  • Interleukin-2 / genetics*
  • Interleukin-2 / immunology
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / immunology*
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Phosphoproteins / immunology
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / immunology
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs / immunology
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / immunology*
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Transcriptional Activation / genetics
  • Transcriptional Activation / immunology
  • Transfection
  • Transgenes
  • Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

Substances

  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Interleukin-2
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • ZEB1 protein, mouse
  • Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • Ctbp2 protein, mouse
  • Hdac1 protein, mouse
  • Histone Deacetylase 1
  • Histone Deacetylases