In this study, we investigated the role of a transcription factor, PU.1, in the regulation of CD80 and CD86 expression in dendritic cells (DCs). A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that PU.1 is constitutively bound to the CD80 and CD86 promoters in bone marrow-derived DCs. In addition, co-expression of PU.1 resulted in the transactivation of the CD80 and CD86 promoters in a reporter assay. The binding of PU.1 to cis-enhancing regions was confirmed by electromobility gel-shift assay. As expected, inhibition of PU.1 expression by short interfering RNA (siRNA) in bone marrow-derived DCs resulted in marked down-regulation of CD80 and CD86 expression. Moreover, overexpression of PU.1 in murine bone marrow-derived lineage-negative cells induced the expression of CD80 and CD86 in the absence of monocyte/ DC-related growth factors and/or cytokines. Based on these results, we conclude that PU.1 is a critical factor for the expression of CD80 and CD86. We also found that subcutaneous injection of PU.1 siRNA or topical application of a cream-emulsified PU.1 siRNA efficiently inhibited murine contact hypersensitivity. Our results suggest that PU.1 is a potential target for the treatment of immune-related diseases. (Blood. 2011; 117(7):2211-2222)
IntroductionT-cell initiation requires 2 signals from antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The first signal comes from ligation of the T-cell receptor and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)/antigen presented on the surface of APCs, and the second signal is via additional costimulatory molecules, including the interaction between the CD28 family on T cells and B7, eg, CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2), expressed on the APC. 1-3 CD80 and CD86 are members of the immunoglobulin supergene family encoded by separate genes, and are expressed on dendritic cells (DCs) or up-regulated on activated macrophages/monocytes, B cells, and activated T cells. 1-6 CD80 or CD86 can provide costimulatory signals by engaging CD28 or CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4; CD152) on T cells. The engagement of CD28 with CD80 or CD86 leads to multiple effects on the immune response, including T-cell activation and differentiation and tissue migration. [7][8][9] In contrast to CD28, the outcome of CTLA4 engagement on T cells is to suppress proliferation by transmitting an inhibitory signal. 10 In addition, a subset of T cells with potent immunoregulatory properties, CD4 ϩ CD25 ϩ regulatory T cells, constitutively expresses CTLA4. 11,12 Thus, interactions between CTLA4 and CD80 or CD86 provides an immunosuppressive function in modulating T-cell proliferation and plays a role in immune tolerance. Based on these observations, the regulated expression of costimulatory molecules is critical for immune function. Therefore, revealing the molecular mechanisms of gene expression of costimulatory molecules is essential for an understanding of the regulation of T cell-mediated immune responses.Despite the importance of CD80 and CD86, the critical transcription factor for gene expression of CD80 or CD86 is sti...