quantification-global-histone-post-translational-modifications-using

Quantification of Global Histone Post Translational Modifications Using Intranuclear Flow Cytometry in Isolated Mouse Brain Microglia

Gene expression control occurs partially by modifications in chromatin structure, including the addition and removal of posttranslational modifications to ...

University of British Columbia

Recent work by Ciernia et al. (2020) identified how genetic and epigenetic mechanisms interact to regulate innate immune memory in bone marrow derived macrophages. The authors examined the BTBR strain, a naturally occurring mouse model of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) that captures the complex genetics, behavioral and immune dysregulation found in the human disorder. Immune cell cultures from the BTBR strain compared to the standard C57 showed hyper-responsive immune gene expression that was linked to altered chromatin accessibility at sites with genetic differences between the strains. Together, findings from this work demonstrated that multiple levels of gene regulation likely dictate the formation of innate immune memory and are likely disrupted in immune cells in ASD. Future work will be needed to extend these findings to immune gene regulation in the brain and how changes in immune function are related to abnormal behaviors in brain disorders.

Chromatin Dynamics and Genetic Variation Combine to Regulate Innate Immune Memory.

As the primary innate immune cells of the brain, microglia respond to damage and disease through pro-inflammatory release of cytokines and neuroinflammatory molecules. Histone acetylation is an activating transcriptional mark that regulates inflammatory gene expression. Inhibition of histone deacetylase 3 (Hdac3) has been utilized in pre-clinical models of depression, stroke, and spinal cord injury to improve recovery following injury, but the molecular mechanisms underlying Hdac3's regulation of inflammatory gene expression in microglia is not well understood. To address this lack of knowledge, we examined how pharmacological inhibition of Hdac3 in an immortalized microglial cell line (BV2) impacted histone acetylation and gene expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory genes in response to immune challenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Flow cytometry and cleavage under tags & release using nuclease (CUT & RUN) revealed that Hdac3 inhibition increases global and promoter-specific histone acetylation, resulting in the release of gene repression at baseline and enhanced responses to LPS. Hdac3 inhibition enhanced neuroprotective functions of microglia in response to LPS through reduced nitric oxide release and increased phagocytosis. The findings suggest Hdac3 serves as a regulator of microglial inflammation, and that inhibition of Hdac3 facilitates the microglial response to inflammation and its subsequent clearing of debris or damaged cells. Together, this work provides new mechanistic insights into therapeutic applications of Hdac3 inhibition which mediate reduced neuroinflammatory insults through microglial response.

Jennifer Kim

Graduate Program in Neuroscience,
Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health,
Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health

University of British Columbia

Quantification of Global Histone Post Translational Modifications Using Intranuclear Flow Cytometry in Isolated Mouse Brain Microglia

Jennifer Kim

Graduate Program in Neuroscience,Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health

University of British Columbia

Quantification of Global Histone Post Translational Modifications Using Intranuclear Flow Cytometry in Isolated Mouse Brain Microglia

Graduate Program in Neuroscience,
Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health,
Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health