N6 -methyladenosine (m6A) is the most common and abundant messenger RNA modification, modulated by ‘writers’, ‘erasers’ and ‘readers’ of this mark 1,2. In vitro data have shown that m6A influences all fundamental aspects of mRNA metabolism, mainly mRNA stability, to determine stem cell fates 3,4. However, its in vivo physiological function in mammals and adult mammalian cells is still unknown. Here we show that deletion of m6A ‘writer’ protein METTL3 in mouse T cells disrupts T cell homeostasis and differentiation. In a lymphopenic mouse adoptive transfer model, naive Mettl3 deficient T cells failed to undergo homeostatic expansion and remarkably remained in the naïve state up through 12 weeks, thereby preventing colitis. Consistent with these observations, the mRNAs of SOCS family genes encoding STAT- signaling inhibitory proteins, Socs1, Socs3 and Cish, were marked by m6A, exhibited slower mRNA decay and increased mRNAs and protein expression levels in Mettl3 deficient naïve T cells. This increased SOCS family activity consequently inhibited IL-7 mediated STAT5 activation and T cell homeostatic proliferation and differentiation. We also found that m6A plays important roles for inducible degradation of Socs mRNAs in response to IL-7 signaling in order to reprogram Naïve T cells for proliferation and differentiation. Our study elucidates for the first time the in vivo biological role of m6A modification in T cell mediated pathogenesis and reveals a novel mechanism of T cell homeostasis and signal-dependent induction of mRNA degradation.

SUMMARY The intestinal mucosal barrier controlling the resident microbiome is dependent on a protective mucus layer generated by goblet cells, impairment of which is a hallmark of the inflammatory bowel disease Ulcerative Colitis. Here we show that IL-18 is critical in driving the pathologic breakdown of barrier integrity in a model of colitis. Deletion of Il18 or its receptor Il18r1 in intestinal epithelial cells (Δ/EC) conferred protection from colitis and mucosal damage in mice. In contrast, deletion of the IL-18 negative regulator Il18bp resulted in severe colitis associated with loss of mature goblet cells. Colitis and goblet cell loss were rescued in Il18bp−/−;Il18rΔ/EC mice, demonstrating that colitis severity is controlled at the level of IL-18 signaling in intestinal epithelial cells. IL-18 inhibited goblet cell maturation by regulating the transcriptional program instructing goblet cell development. These results inform on the mechanism of goblet cell dysfunction which underlies the pathology of Ulcerative Colitis.

Cell communication within tissues is mediated by multiple paracrine signals including growth factors, which control cell survival and proliferation. Cells and the growth factors they produce and receive constitute a circuit with specific properties that ensure homeostasis. Here, we used computational and experimental approaches to characterize the features of cell circuits based on growth factor exchange between macrophages and fibroblasts, two cell types found in most mammalian tissues. We found that the macrophage-fibroblast cell circuit is stable and robust to perturbations. Analytical screening of all possible two-cell circuit topologies revealed the circuit features sufficient for stability, including environmental constraint and negative-feedback regulation. Moreover, we found that cell-cell contact is essential for the stability of the macrophage-fibroblast circuit. These findings illustrate principles of cell circuit design and provide a quantitative perspective on cell interactions.

SUMMARY Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) are innate lymphocytes that confer protective type 2 immunity during helminth infection and are also involved in allergic airway inflammation. Here we report that ILC2 development required T cell factor 1 (TCF-1, the product of the Tcf7 gene), a transcription factor also implicated in T cell lineage specification. Tcf7−/− mice lack ILC2, and were unable to mount ILC2-mediated innate type 2 immune responses. Forced expression of TCF-1 in bone marrow progenitors partially bypassed the requirement for Notch signaling in the generation of ILC2 in vivo. TCF-1 acted through both GATA-3-dependent and GATA-3-independent pathways to promote the generation of ILC2. These results are reminiscent of the critical roles of TCF-1 in early T cell development. Hence, transcription factors that underlie early steps of T cell development are also implicated in the development of innate lymphoid cells.

SummaryNeutrophils, eosinophils and “classical” monocytes collectively account for ~70% of human blood leukocytes and are among the shortest-lived cells in the body1,2. Precise regulation of the lifespan of these myeloid cells is critical to maintain protective immune responses while minimizing the deleterious consequences of prolonged inflammation1,2. However, how the lifespan of these cells is strictly controlled remains largely unknown. Here, we identify a novel long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) that we termed Morrbid, which tightly controls the survival of neutrophils, eosinophils and “classical” monocytes in response to pro-survival cytokines. To control the lifespan of these cells, Morrbid regulates the transcription of its neighboring pro-apoptotic gene, Bcl2l11 (Bim), by promoting the enrichment of the PRC2 complex at the Bcl2l11 promoter to maintain this gene in a poised state. Notably, Morrbid regulates this process in cis, enabling allele-specific control of Bcl2l11 transcription. Thus, in these highly inflammatory cells, changes in Morrbid levels provide a locus-specific regulatory mechanism that allows for rapid control of apoptosis in response to extracellular pro-survival signals. As MORRBID is present in humans and dysregulated in patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome, this lncRNA may represent a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory disorders characterized by aberrant short-lived myeloid cell lifespan.

Significance The protooncogene c-Myc (Myc) is an oncogenic driver in many cancers, but is difficult to target directly with drugs. An alternative strategy is to use drugs that inhibit factors that regulate Myc expression. Notch drives Myc expression in most T-cell leukemias, but clinical trials of Notch inhibitors have been disappointing, possibly because cells emerge that express Myc in a Notch-independent fashion. Here we identify the genomic switches that regulate Myc expression in the Notch-inhibitor–sensitive and –resistant states. Our findings suggest that Notch inhibitor resistance occurs through a “switch swap” that relieves Notch dependency while increasing dependency on a different factor, bromodomain containing 4 (Brd4). These studies provide a rationale for targeting Myc in T cell leukemias with combinations of Notch and Brd4 inhibitors.

Tribbles homolog 2 (Trib2) is a pseudokinase that induces acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in mice and is highly expressed in a subset of human AML. Trib2 has 3 distinct regions, a proline-rich N-terminus, a serine/threonine kinase homology domain, and a C-terminal constitutive photomorphogenesis 1 (COP1)-binding domain. We performed a structure-function analysis of Trib2 using in vitro and in vivo assays. The N-terminus was not required for IntroductionTribbles (Trib) pseudokinases have recently emerged as important contributors to dysregulated signaling in malignant hematopoiesis. All 3 mammalian Trib homologs, Trib1, Trib2, and Trib3 (collectively termed "Trib1-3"), are associated with human malignancies. [1][2][3] Trib1 and Trib2 function as oncogenes in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and cooperate with homeobox gene 9 (HoxA9) to accelerate the onset of AML in murine AML models. 2,4 In particular, Trib2 is highly expressed in a specific subset of human AMLs that are associated with impaired CCAAT/ enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBP-␣) function. 2 These AMLs express both myeloid and T-cell markers, and some contain activating Notch1 mutations. 5 As Trib2 is a direct transcriptional target of oncogenic Notch1, we hypothesize that the oncogenic Notch1 mutations are activating Trib2 expression in some of these tumors. 5 These biphenotypic AMLs respond poorly to current therapies, suggesting that new therapeutic strategies are needed. 6 Trib proteins interact with various signaling molecules and transcription factors, including activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), 7 p65, 8 C-terminal interacting protein (CtIP), 9 mitogenactivated protein kinase kinase (MAPKK), 10 protein kinase B (AKT), 11 and constitutive morphogenesis 1 (COP1). 12 We recently demonstrated that Trib2 binds to and facilitates the degradation of C/EBP-␣, and proposed that this process is a key feature of Trib2-induced AML. 2 Trib2 (also termed c5Fw, TRB-2, GS3955, TRB2, and AW319517) has 3 clearly distinguishable regions, including an N-terminal portion, a central serine/threonine kinase-like domain (KD), and a C-terminal region that contains a COP1-binding site. The Trib2 N-terminus is the most divergent region of mammalian Trib proteins and is characterized by a high serine and proline content. The C-terminus contains a DQxVPx motif that is shared by Trib1-3 and binds the E3 ligase, COP1. 12 Trib2 belongs to the pseudokinase family because it contains a central region that shares considerable homology with serine/ threonine kinases, but has deviations in the catalytic loop that are likely to eliminate catalytic activity. 13 Canonical kinases have an N-terminal lobe that binds adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a central hinge region, and a C-terminal lobe that binds substrates. 14 The N-terminal lobe contains an invariant lysine residue critical for ATP binding that is conserved in Trib2, but the highly conserved sequence, HRDLKPEN, in the C-terminal subdomain, which is critical for phosphate transfer in active kinases, is altered to LRD...

The maintenance of organismal homeostasis requires partitioning and transport of biochemical molecules between organ systems, their composite cells, and subcellular organelles. Although transcriptional programming undeniably defines the functional state of cells and tissues, underlying biochemical networks are intricately intertwined with transcriptional, translational, and post-translational regulation. Studies of the metabolic regulation of immunity have elegantly illustrated this phenomenon. The cells of the immune system interface with a diverse set of environmental conditions. Circulating immune cells perfuse peripheral organs in the blood and lymph, patrolling for pathogen invasion. Resident immune cells remain in tissues and play more newly appreciated roles in tissue homeostasis and immunity. Each of these cell populations interacts with unique and dynamic tissue environments, which vary greatly in biochemical composition. Furthermore, the effector response of immune cells to a diverse set of activating cues requires unique cellular adaptations to supply the requisite biochemical landscape. In this review, we examine the role of spatial partitioning of metabolic processes in immune function. We focus on studies of lymphocyte metabolism, with reference to the greater immunometabolism literature when appropriate to illustrate this concept.