Deltex1 antagonizes HIF-1α and sustains the stability of regulatory T cells in vivo

Nat Commun. 2015 Feb 19:6:6353. doi: 10.1038/ncomms7353.

Abstract

Application of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in transplantation, autoimmunity and allergy has been extensively explored, but how Foxp3 and Treg stability is regulated in vivo is incompletely understood. Here, we identify a requirement for Deltex1 (DTX1), a contributor to T-cell anergy and Foxp3 protein level maintenance in vivo. Dtx1(-/-) Tregs are as effective as WT Tregs in the inhibition of CD4(+)CD25(-) T-cell activation in vitro. However, the suppressive ability of Dtx1(-/-) Tregs is greatly impaired in vivo. We find that Foxp3 expression is diminished when Dtx1(-/-) Tregs are co-transferred with effector T cells in vivo. DTX1 promotes the degradation of HIF-1α. Knockout of HIF-1α restores the Foxp3 stability and rescues the defective suppressive activity in Dtx1(-/-) Treg cells in vivo. Our results suggest that DTX1 exerts another level of control on Treg stability in vivo by sustaining the expression of Foxp3 protein in Tregs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / metabolism*
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / physiology*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • Hif1a protein, mouse
  • Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit
  • Dtx1 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases