Scientific publications
CD137 (4-1BB) Costimulation Modifies DNA Methylation in CD8 + T Cell-Relevant Genes
M Angela Aznar, Sara Labiano, Angel Diaz-Lagares, Carmen Molina, Saray Garasa, Arantza Azpilikueta, Iñaki Etxeberria, Alfonso R Sanchez-Paulete, Alan J Korman, Manel Esteller, Juan Sandoval, Ignacio Melero
Abstract
CD137 (4-1BB) costimulation imprints long-term changes that instruct the ultimate behavior of T cells that have previously experienced CD137 ligation. Epigenetic changes could provide a suitable mechanism for these long-term consequences. Genome-wide DNA methylation arrays were carried out on human peripheral blood CD8+ T lymphocytes stimulated with agonist monoclonal antibody to CD137, including urelumab, which is in phase I/II clinical trials for cancer immunotherapy.
Several genes showed consistent methylation patterns in response to CD137 costimulation, which were confirmed by pyrosequencing in a series of healthy donors. CD96, HHLA2, CCR5, CXCR5, and CCL5 were among the immune-related genes regulated by differential DNA methylation, leading to changes in mRNA and protein expression. These genes are also differentially methylated in naïve versus antigen-experienced CD8+ T cells. The transcription factor TCF1 and the microRNA miR-21 were regulated by DNA methylation upon CD137 costimulation.
Such gene-expression regulatory factors can, in turn, broaden the effects of DNA methylation by controlling expression of their target genes. Overall, chromatin remodeling is postulated to leave CD137-costimulated T lymphocytes poised to differentially respond upon subsequent antigen recognition. Accordingly, CD137 connects costimulation during priming to genome-wide DNA methylation and chromatin reprogramming.
CITATION Cancer Immunol Res. 2018 Jan;6(1):69-78. doi: 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-17-0159. Epub 2017 Nov 13.
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