A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

A proximal enhancer regulates RORA expression during early human Th17 cell differentiation




AuthorsKalim, Ubaid Ullah; Biradar, Rahul; Junttila, Sini; Khan, Mohd Moin; Tripathi, Subhash; Khan, Meraj Hasan; Smolander, Johannes; Kanduri, Kartiek; Envall, Tapio; Laiho, Asta; Marson, Alexander; Rasool, Omid; Elo, Laura L.; Lahesmaa Riitta

PublisherAcademic Press

Publication year2024

JournalClinical Immunology

Journal name in sourceClinical Immunology

Article number110261

Volume264

ISSN1521-6616

eISSN1521-7035

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2024.110261

Web address https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2024.110261

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/404745095


Abstract

Gene regulatory elements, such as enhancers, greatly influence cell identity by tuning the transcriptional activity of specific cell types. Dynamics of enhancer landscape during early human Th17 cell differentiation remains incompletely understood. Leveraging ATAC-seq-based profiling of chromatin accessibility and comprehensive analysis of key histone marks, we identified a repertoire of potential enhancers that potentially exert control over the fate specification of Th17 cells. We found 23 SNPs associated with autoimmune diseases within Th17-enhancers that precisely overlapped with the binding sites of transcription factors actively engaged in T-cell functions. Among the Th17-specific enhancers, we identified an enhancer in the intron of RORA and demonstrated that this enhancer positively regulates RORA transcription. Moreover, CRISPR-Cas9-mediated deletion of a transcription factor binding site-rich region within the identified RORA enhancer confirmed its role in regulating RORA transcription. These findings provide profound insights into the potential mechanism by which the RORA enhancer orchestrates Th17 differentiation.


Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.





Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 16:46