Epigenetic repression of the Igk locus by STAT5-mediated recruitment of the histone methyltransferase Ezh2

Nat Immunol. 2011 Oct 30;12(12):1212-20. doi: 10.1038/ni.2136.

Abstract

During B lymphopoiesis, recombination of the locus encoding the immunoglobulin κ-chain complex (Igk) requires expression of the precursor to the B cell antigen receptor (pre-BCR) and escape from signaling via the interleukin 7 receptor (IL-7R). By activating the transcription factor STAT5, IL-7R signaling maintains proliferation and represses Igk germline transcription by unknown mechanisms. We demonstrate that a STAT5 tetramer bound the Igk intronic enhancer (E(κi)), which led to recruitment of the histone methyltransferase Ezh2. Ezh2 marked trimethylation of histone H3 at Lys27 (H3K27me3) throughout the κ-chain joining region (J(κ)) to the κ-chain constant region (C(κ)). In the absence of Ezh2, IL-7 failed to repress Igk germline transcription. H3K27me3 modifications were lost after termination of IL-7R-STAT5 signaling, and the transcription factor E2A bound E(κi), which resulted in acquisition of H3K4me1 and acetylated histone H4 (H4Ac). Genome-wide analyses showed a STAT5 tetrameric binding motif associated with transcriptional repression. Our data demonstrate how IL-7R signaling represses Igk germline transcription and provide a general model for STAT5-mediated epigenetic transcriptional repression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • Binding, Competitive
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Epigenesis, Genetic*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism*
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulins / genetics*
  • Methylation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7 / metabolism
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Histones
  • IgK
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Receptors, Interleukin-7
  • STAT5 Transcription Factor
  • Tcf3 protein, mouse
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • Ezh2 protein, mouse
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • Polycomb Repressive Complex 2