Batf regulates previously unknown AP-1 target genes to control TH17 differentiation

Activator protein 1: AP-1) transcription factors are dimers of Jun, Fos, musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma: MAF) and activating transcription factor: ATF) family proteins that are characterized by a basic region and a leucine zipper domain. While many AP-1 proteins also contain defined transcriptional activation domains: TADs), some consist only of a basic region and leucine zipper and are thought to function as inhibitors of AP-1 activity. We found that the AP-1 protein Batf, which lacks a TAD, is highly expressed in T helper cells compared to various other immune cells and tissues. IL-17-producing T helper: TH17) cells are a CD4+ T cell subset that coordinates inflammatory responses in host defense but are pathogenic in autoimmunity. To study the role of Batf in T cells, we generated Batf deficient mice by gene targeting. Batf <super>-/-</super> mice show a highly selective defect in TH17 differentiation. As a result, Batf -/- mice are completely resistant to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Using gene expression analysis, we found that Batf <super>-/-</super> T cells fail to induce known TH17-specific transcription factors, such as ROR&gamma;t, and the cytokine IL-21, required for TH17 differentiation. Neither addition of IL-21 nor overexpression of ROR&gamma;t fully restores IL-17 production in Batf <super>-/-</super> T cells, suggesting that Batf may be required directly for IL-17 transcription. We found that the IL17 promoter is Batf-responsive, and upon TH17 differentiation, Batf binds to several conserved intergenic elements in the IL17A/F locus as well as to regions in the IL17, IL21 and IL22 promoters. Using bio-computational methods we determined that the Batf-binding element in the IL17, IL21 and IL22 promoters differs from canonical symmetric AP-1 elements. Using EMSA analysis we found that Batf forms heterodimers preferentially with JunB during TH17 differentiation. These results demonstrate that the AP-1 factor Batf regulates previously unknown AP-1 target genes to control TH17 differentiation and TH17-mediated autoimmune disease.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology and Biomedical Sciences: Immunology

Year dc:date.available

2009

Author dc:creator

• Schraml, Barbara

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kenneth Murphy

• Health Sciences
• Immunology
• Batf
• Interleukin 17
• T helper cell
• Th17

Language dc:language

English (en)

DOI

https://doi.org/10.7936/K7BG2M0C

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openscholarship.wustl.edu:etd-1429