Repository logo
 

Systemic silencing of PHD2 causes reversible immune regulatory dysfunction.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Yamamoto, Atsushi 
Hester, Joanna 
Macklin, Philip S 
Kawai, Kento 
Uchiyama, Masateru 

Abstract

Physiological effects of cellular hypoxia are sensed by prolyl hydroxylase (PHD) enzymes which regulate HIFs. Genetic interventions on HIF/PHD pathways reveal multiple phenotypes that extend the known biology of hypoxia. Recent studies unexpectedly implicate HIF in aspects of multiple immune and inflammatory pathways. However such studies are often limited by systemic lethal effects and/or use tissue-specific recombination systems, which are inherently irreversible, un-physiologically restricted and difficult to time. To study these processes better we developed recombinant mice which express tetracycline-regulated shRNAs broadly targeting the main components of the HIF/PHD pathway, permitting timed bi-directional intervention. We have shown that stabilization of HIF levels in adult mice through PHD2 enzyme silencing by RNA interference, or inducible recombination of floxed alleles, results in multi-lineage leukocytosis and features of autoimmunity. This phenotype was rapidly normalized on re-establishment of the hypoxia-sensing machinery when shRNA expression was discontinued. In both situations these effects were mediated principally through the Hif2a isoform. Assessment of cells bearing regulatory T cell markers from these mice revealed defective function and pro-inflammatory effects in vivo. We believe our findings have shown a new role for the PHD2/Hif2a couple in the reversible regulation of T cell and immune activity.

Description

Keywords

Autoimmune diseases, Immunology, Mouse models, Therapeutics, hypoxia, Animals, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Proline Dioxygenases, Mice, Mice, Transgenic, RNA Interference, Signal Transduction, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory

Journal Title

J Clin Invest

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0021-9738
1558-8238

Volume Title

129

Publisher

American Society for Clinical Investigation