Akt1-mediated Gata3 phosphorylation controls the repression of IFNγ in memory-type Th2 cells

Nat Commun. 2016 Apr 7:7:11289. doi: 10.1038/ncomms11289.

Abstract

Th2 cells produce Th2 cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13, but repress Th1 cytokine IFNγ. Recent studies have revealed various distinct memory-type Th2 cell subsets, one of which produces a substantial amount of IFNγ in addition to Th2 cytokines, however it remains unclear precisely how these Th2 cells produce IFNγ. We herein show that phosphorylation of Gata3 at Ser308, Thr315 and Ser316 induces dissociation of a histone deacetylase Hdac2 from the Gata3/Chd4 repressive complex in Th2 cells. We also identify Akt1 as a Gata3-phosphorylating kinase, and the activation of Akt1 induces derepression of Tbx21 and Ifng expression in Th2 cells. Moreover, T-bet-dependent IFNγ expression in IFNγ-producing memory Th2 cells appears to be controlled by the phosphorylation status of Gata3 in human and murine systems. Thus, this study highlights the molecular basis for posttranslational modifications of Gata3 that control the regulation of IFNγ expression in memory Th2 cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Female
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / chemistry
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Histone Deacetylase 2 / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-4 / biosynthesis
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*
  • Zinc Fingers

Substances

  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • T-box transcription factor TBX21
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • HDAC2 protein, human
  • Histone Deacetylase 2