Open AccessRapid Recall Ability of Memory T cells is Encoded in their Epigenome
Author(s) -
Artem Barski,
Suresh Cuddapah,
Andrey V. Kartashov,
Chong Liu,
Hiromi Imamichi,
Wenjing Yang,
Weiqun Peng,
H. Clifford Lane,
Keji Zhao
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/srep39785
Subject(s) - epigenome , recall , computer science , computational biology , biology , dna methylation , genetics , gene , psychology , cognitive psychology , gene expression
Even though T-cell receptor (TCR) stimulation together with co-stimulation is sufficient for the activation of both naïve and memory T cells, the memory cells are capable of producing lineage specific cytokines much more rapidly than the naïve cells. The mechanisms behind this rapid recall response of the memory cells are still not completely understood. Here, we performed epigenetic profiling of human resting naïve, central and effector memory T cells using ChIP-Seq and found that unlike the naïve cells, the regulatory elements of the cytokine genes in the memory T cells are marked by activating histone modifications even in the resting state. Therefore, the ability to induce expression of rapid recall genes upon activation is associated with the deposition of positive histone modifications during memory T cell differentiation. We propose a model of T cell memory, in which immunological memory state is encoded epigenetically, through poising and transcriptional memory.