We have previously demonstrated that CD4+CD25+ Treg cells activated during the course of FIV infection suppress CD8+ CTL function in a TGFβ-dependent fashion, inhibiting IFNγ and IL2 production, and inducing G1 cell cycle arrest. Here, we describe the molecular events occurring at the IL2 promoter leading to suppression of IL2 production. These experiments demonstrate that FoxP3 induced by lentivirus-activated Treg cells in the CD8+ target cells binds to the IL2 promoter, actively repressing IL2 transcription. We further demonstrate that the chronic activation of CD8+ T cells during FIV infection results in chromatin remodeling at the IL2 promoter, specifically, demethylation of CpG residues. These DNA modifications occur during active transcription and translation of IL2; however, these changes render the IL2 promoter permissive to FoxP3-induced transcriptional repression. These data help explain, in part, the seemingly paradoxical observations that CD8+ T cells displaying an activation phenotype exhibit altered antiviral function. Further, we demonstrate that blocking demethylation of CpG residues at the IL2 promoter inhibits FoxP3 binding, suggesting a potential mechanism for rescue and / or reactivation of CD8+ T cells. Using the FIV model for lentiviral persistence, these studies provide a framework for understanding how immune activation combined with Treg cell-mediated suppression may affect CD8+ T cell IL2 transcription, maturation, and anti-viral function.
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