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Long‐range genomic interactions epigenetically regulate the expression of a cytokine receptor
Author(s) -
Deligianni Chrysoula,
Spilianakis Charalampos G
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.1038/embor.2012.112
Subject(s) - biology , cytokine receptor , transcription factor , locus (genetics) , genetics , ctcf , regulation of gene expression , interleukin 21 receptor , cytokine , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , enhancer
Current research on the cytokine‐mediated signalling towards the polarization and differentiation of a T‐helper cell lineage lacks mechanistic insights on the transcriptional regulation of cytokine receptor genes. Here, we propose a new mechanism for the transcriptional regulation of the interferon gamma receptor 1 gene via long‐range intrachromosomal interactions with the Ifn γ locus mediated by the protein CTCF. These interactions sustain the monoallelic expression of the differentially methylated Ifn γ R1 gene and are persistent on blockade of active transcription. Our findings suggest that regulatory elements for a cytokine gene locus can also positively regulate the transcription of its receptor.