Transcriptional regulation of Munc13-4 expression in cytotoxic lymphocytes is disrupted by an intronic mutation associated with a primary immunodeficiency

Frank Cichocki, Heinrich Schlums, Hongchuan Li, Vanessa Stache, Timothy Holmes, Todd R. Lenvik, Samuel C.C. Chiang, Jeffrey S. Miller, Marie Meeths, Stephen K. Anderson, Yenan T. Bryceson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

Autosomal recessive mutations in UNC13D, the gene that encodes Munc13-4, are associated with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 3 (FHL3). Munc13-4 expression is obligatory for exocytosis of lytic granules, facilitating cytotoxicity by T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. The mechanisms regulating Munc13-4 expression are unknown. Here, we report that Munc13-4 is highly expressed in differentiated human NK cells and effector CD8+ T lymphocytes. A UNC13D c.118-308C>T mutation, causative of FHL3, disrupted binding of the ETS family member ELF1 to a conserved intronic sequence. This mutation impairs UNC13D intron 1 recruitment of STAT4 and the chromatin remodeling complex component BRG1, diminishing active histone modifications at the locus. The intronic sequence acted as an overall enhancer of Munc13-4 expression in cytotoxic lymphocytes in addition to representing an alternative promoter encoding a novel Munc13-4 isoform. Mechanistically, T cell receptor engagement facilitated STAT4-dependent Munc13-4 expression in naive CD8+ T lymphocytes. Collectively, our data demonstrates how chromatin remodeling within an evolutionarily conserved regulatory element in intron 1 of UNC13D regulates the induction of Munc13-4 expression in cytotoxic lymphocytes and suggests that an alternative Munc13-4 isoform is required for lymphocyte cytotoxicity. Thus, mutations associated with primary immunodeficiencies may cause disease by disrupting transcription factor binding.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1079-1091
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine
Volume211
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2014

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