STAT3, an essential transcription factor with pleiotropic functions, plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. Despite recent data linking STAT3 with inflammatory bowel disease, exactly how it contributes to chronic intestinal inflammation is not known. Using a T cell transfer model of colitis we found that STAT3 expression in T cells was essential for the induction of both colitis and systemic inflammation. STAT3 was critical in modulating the balance of T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells, as well as in promoting CD4+ T cell proliferation. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation and massive parallel sequencing (ChIP-Seq) to define the genome-wide targets of STAT3 in CD4+ T cells. We found that STAT3 bound to multiple genes involved in Th17 cell differentiation, cell activation, proliferation and survival, regulating both expression and epigenetic modifications. Thus, STAT3 orchestrates multiple critical aspects of T cell function in inflammation and homeostasis.
Diverse targets of the transcription factor STAT3 contribute to T cell pathogenicity and homeostasis.
Specimen part
View SamplesSTAT3, an essential transcription factor with pleiotropic functions, plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. Despite recent data linking STAT3 with inflammatory bowel disease, exactly how it contributes to chronic intestinal inflammation is not known. Using a T cell transfer model of colitis we found that STAT3 expression in T cells was essential for the induction of both colitis and systemic inflammation. STAT3 was critical in modulating the balance of T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells, as well as in promoting CD4+ T cell proliferation. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation and massive parallel sequencing (ChIP-Seq) to define the genome-wide targets of STAT3 in CD4+ T cells. We found that STAT3 bound to multiple genes involved in Th17 cell differentiation, cell activation, proliferation and survival, regulating both expression and epigenetic modifications. Thus, STAT3 orchestrates multiple critical aspects of T cell function in inflammation and homeostasis.
Diverse targets of the transcription factor STAT3 contribute to T cell pathogenicity and homeostasis.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesInterleukin 2 (IL-2), a cytokine linked to human autoimmune diseases, limits IL-17 production. We show that deletion of Stat3 in T cells abrogates IL-17 production and attenuates autoimmunity associated with IL-2 deficiency. While STAT3 induces IL-17 and RORt and inhibits Foxp3, IL-2 inhibited IL-17 independently of Foxp3 and RORt. We found that STAT3 and STAT5 bound to multiple common sites across the Il17 genetic locus. The induction of STAT5 binding by IL-2 was associated with a reduction in STAT3 binding at these sites and the inhibition of associated active epigenetic marks. Titrating the relative activation of STAT3 and STAT5 modulated TH17 cell specification. Thus, the balance rather than the absolute magnitude of these signals determines the propensity of cells to make a key inflammatory cytokine.
Opposing regulation of the locus encoding IL-17 through direct, reciprocal actions of STAT3 and STAT5.
Specimen part
View Samples