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. 2012 Oct 12;48(1):28-38.
doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2012.07.020. Epub 2012 Aug 23.

Control of proinflammatory gene programs by regulated trimethylation and demethylation of histone H4K20

Joshua D Stender  1 , Gabriel Pascual, Wen Liu, Minna U Kaikkonen, Kevin Do, Nathanael J Spann, Michael Boutros, Norbert Perrimon, Michael G Rosenfeld, Christopher K Glass
Affiliations

Control of proinflammatory gene programs by regulated trimethylation and demethylation of histone H4K20

Joshua D Stender et al. Mol Cell. .

Abstract

Regulation of genes that initiate and amplify inflammatory programs of gene expression is achieved by signal-dependent exchange of coregulator complexes that function to read, write, and erase specific histone modifications linked to transcriptional activation or repression. Here, we provide evidence for the role of trimethylated histone H4 lysine 20 (H4K20me3) as a repression checkpoint that restricts expression of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) target genes in macrophages. H4K20me3 is deposited at the promoters of a subset of these genes by the SMYD5 histone methyltransferase through its association with NCoR corepressor complexes. Signal-dependent erasure of H4K20me3 is required for effective gene activation and is achieved by NF-κB-dependent delivery of the histone demethylase PHF2. Liver X receptors antagonize TLR4-dependent gene activation by maintaining NCoR/SMYD5-mediated repression. These findings reveal a histone H4K20 trimethylation/demethylation strategy that integrates positive and negative signaling inputs that control immunity and homeostasis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. SMYD5 is a Negative Regulator of Inflammatory Response Genes and is Required for LXR Transrepression
A. Percent amino acid identity between Drosophila CG3353 and mammalian SMYD5 proteins, which share conserved MYND and SET domains. B. dsRNA knockdown of CG3353 in Drosophila S2 cells reverses Tll-dependent repression of the Attacin A luciferase reporter. Values represent the mean ± SEM of three experiments, *p<0.05. C. Effect of control (Ctl) or Smyd1-5 siRNAs transfected into thioglycollate elicited macrophages on KLA-induced expression of Ccl4 mRNA 4 h following treatment. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM, *p<0.05 as compared to siCtl LPS treatment. D. Effect of control (Ctl) or Smyd5 siRNAs transfected into thioglycollate elicited macrophages on KLA-induced expression of ll1a, ll1b, Ccl4, Cxcl10 and Tnf mRNAs 4 h following treatment. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM, *p<0.05. E. Effect of overexpression of WT SMYD5 and mutant (H315L) SMYD5 on KLA induction of the Tnf promoter. Values represent the mean ± SEM of three experiments. *p<0.05. F. Effect of SMYD5 knockdown on LXR repression of Ccl4 mRNA in thioglycollate elicited macrophages treated with GW3965 for 1 hour followed by 4 hours of KLA treatment. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM, *p<0.05 relative to siCtl, KLA treated sample.
Figure 2
Figure 2. SMYD5 Trimethylates H4K20 at TLR4-responsive Promoters
A. Methyltransferase activity of SMYD5, and two SET domain mutants (H315L and C317A), on recombinant histones H3 and H4. GST-Purified SMYD5 proteins were incubated with radiolabeled H3-SAM and recombinant histones for 4 hours. Activity was measured as CPM/μm histone. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05 B. GST-SMYD5 and GST-SMYD5 (H315L,C317A) were incubated with recombinant histone H4. Reaction products were detected by immunoblotting with antibodies that recognize di- or tri- H4K20 methylation. C. Immunoprecipitated Flag-SMYD5 and Flag-SMYD5 (H315L/C317A) were incubated with recombinant histone H3 or H4 in the presence or absence of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). Reaction products were detected by immunoblotting with indicated antibodies. D. Flag-SMYD5 or recombinant SET8 were incubated with recombinant histone H4, or a chemically modified histone H4 trimethylated at K20. Activity was measured as CPM/μg histone. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM, *p<0.05 relative to Empty, unmodified H4 treatments. E. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays assessing the H4K20me3 levels on the Tnf promoter after treatment of thioglycollate elicited macrophages with siCtl and siSmyd5 for 48 hours followed by 2 hours of Veh or KLA stimulation. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM, **,*p<0.05. F. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays assessing H4K20me3 levels on the Cxcl10 promoter before and after KLA stimulation for 2 hours. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05.
Figure 3
Figure 3. The NCoR Complex Directs SMYD5 to TLR4-Responsive Promoters
A. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays assessing BLRP-SMYD5 occupancy of the Tnf promoter before and after KLA stimulation for 2 hours. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05. B. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays assessing BLRP-SMYD5 occupancy of the Cxcl10 promoter before and after KLA stimulation for 2 hours. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05. C. Gel filtration experiments for HEK293 cell lysates transfected with Flag-NCoR and GFP-SMYD5. The lysates were then separated using SDS-PAGE analysis and immunoblotted with anti-NCoR, HDAC3, and GFP antibodies. D. Co-Immunoprecipitation of BLRP-SMYD5 with Flag-NCoR in BLRP-SMYD5 RAW264.7 cells. E. Methyltransferase reaction for SMYD5 and NCoR. HEK293 cells were transfected with vectors containing Flag-Empty, Flag-SMYD5, or Flag-NCoR and immunoprecipitated using Flag M2 beads. Lysates were subjected to a methyltransferase reaction and immunoblotted using a specific H4K20me3 antibody. F. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays assessing the H4K20me3 levels on the Tnf and Cxcl10 promoters in WT and NCoR−/− bone marrow derived macrophages. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM, *p<0.05. G. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays assessing the BLRP-SMYD5 recruitment to the Ccl4, Tnf and ll6 promoters following shCtl and shNCoR transfected Raw-BLRP-SMYD5 cells. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM, *p<0.05.
Figure 4
Figure 4. PHF2 Demethylates H4K20me3 and is Required for TLR4-dependent Gene Activation
A. Quantitative real time PCR for Tnf mRNA isolated from thioglycollate elicited macrophages treated with siRNA for Control, Phf2, Phf8 and Kiaa1718 and subsequently treated with KLA for 4 hours. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM, *p<0.05. B. Quantitative real time PCR for Cxcl10 mRNA isolated from thioglycollate elicited macrophages treated with siRNA for Control, Phf2, Phf8 and Kiaa1718 and subsequently treated with KLA for 4 hours. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05. C. Histone demethylase assay for PHF2 and a PHF2 mutant performed on core histone and mononucleosomes. His-PHF2(wt) or His-PHF2(mut)(H248A, D250A) were purified and incubated with core histones or mononucleosomes in histone demethylation buffer for 4 hours. Demethylation activity was evaluated by immunoblotting with specific antibodies. D. Quantification of H4K20me3 intensities from figure 3C normalized to H4 signal. E. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays assessing the occupancy of H4K20me3 on the Tnf promoter in thioglycollate elicited macrophages treated with siCtl or siPhf2 for 48 hours followed by Veh or KLA stimulation for 2 hours. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05. F. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays assessing the occupancy of H4K20me3 on the Cxcl10 promoter in thioglycollate elicited macrophages treated with siCtl or siPhf2 for 48 hours followed by Veh or KLA stimulation for 2 hours. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05. G. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays assessing the recruitment of BLRP-PHF2 to the β-actin, Cxcl10, and Tnf promoters upon KLA stimulation for 2 hours. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Exchange of SMYD5 and PHF2 Controls the Regulation of TLR4-Dependent Gene Expression
A. Venn diagram comparing the overlap of LPS genes that are blocked by siPhf2 treatment, enhanced by siSmyd5 treatment or unaffected by either treatment identified by polyA mRNA sequencing. B. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays for H4K20me3 on SMYD5 dependent and SMYD5 independent promoters in thioglycollate elicited macrophages. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05. C. Quantitative real time PCR for Tnf and Cxcl10 mRNAs isolated from thioglycollate elicited macrophages treated with siRNA for Control, Phf2, Smyd5, or a combination of Smyd5 and Phf2 siRNA and subsequently treated with KLA for 4 hours. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05. D. De Novo motif analysis of PHF2-dependent promoters. E. Co-immunoprecipitation assay for transfected Flag-PHF2 with endogenous p65 in RAW 264.7 cells treated with Veh or KLA for 1 hour. F. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays for BLRP-PHF2 on the Tnf and Cxcl10 promoters in cells transfected with shCtl or sh-p65 for 48 hours and subsequently treated with KLA for 3 hours. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05. G. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays for H4K20me3 on the Ccl4 promoter in thioglycollate elicited macrophages treated with Veh, KLA or a combination of GW3965 and KLA. Values represent the average of three experiments −/+ SEM,*p<0.05.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Role of H4K20me3 in Regulation of TLR4 Responsive Genes
Integrated model for SMYD5 and PHF2 regulation of inflammatory gene promoters.
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