| First Author | Verma M | Year | 2021 |
| Journal | J Exp Med | Volume | 218 |
| Issue | 7 | PubMed ID | 34076685 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:331146 | Mgi Id | MGI:6724868 |
| Doi | 10.1084/jem.20201354 | Citation | Verma M, et al. (2021) The molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of innate lymphoid cell (ILC) memory and its relevance for asthma. J Exp Med 218(7) |
| abstractText | Repetitive exposure of Rag1-/- mice to the Alternaria allergen extract generated a form of memory that elicited an asthma-like response upon a subthreshold recall challenge 3-15 wk later. This memory was associated with lung ICOS+ST2+ ILC2s. Genetic, pharmacologic, and antibody-mediated inhibition and adoptive transfer established an essential role for ILC2s in memory-driven asthma. ATAC-seq demonstrated a distinct epigenetic landscape of memory ILC2s and identified Bach2 and AP1 (JunD and Fosl2) motifs as major drivers of altered gene accessibility. scRNA-seq, gene knockout, and signaling studies suggest that repetitive allergenic stress induces a gene repression program involving Nr4a2, Zeb1, Bach2, and JunD and a preparedness program involving Fhl2, FosB, Stat6, Srebf2, and MPP7 in memory ILC2s. A mutually regulated balance between these two programs establishes and maintains memory. The preparedness program (e.g., Fhl2) can be activated with a subthreshold cognate stimulation, which down-regulates repressors and activates effector pathways to elicit the memory-driven phenotype. |
