Long‐range genomic interactions epigenetically regulate the expression of a cytokine receptor

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.