Ferritin heavy chain supports stability and function of the regulatory T cell lineage

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Qian Wu - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Ana Rita Carlos - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, University of Lisbon (Author)
  • Faouzi Braza - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Marie Louise Bergman - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Jamil Z. Kitoko - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Patricia Bastos-Amador - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Eloy Cuadrado - , Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation (Author)
  • Rui Martins - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Bruna Sabino Oliveira - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Vera C. Martins - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Brendon P. Scicluna - , University of Malta (Author)
  • Jonathan J.M. Landry - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg (Author)
  • Ferris E. Jung - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Heidelberg (Author)
  • Temitope W. Ademolue - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Mirko Peitzsch - , Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (Author)
  • Jose Almeida-Santos - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Jessica Thompson - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Silvia Cardoso - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Pedro Ventura - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Manon Slot - , Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation (Author)
  • Stamatia Rontogianni - , Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation (Author)
  • Vanessa Ribeiro - , University of Lisbon (Author)
  • Vital Da Silva Domingues - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Inês A. Cabral - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Sebastian Weis - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Author)
  • Marco Groth - , Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (Author)
  • Cristina Ameneiro - , Foundation Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (Author)
  • Miguel Fidalgo - , Foundation Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (Author)
  • Fudi Wang - , Zhejiang University (Author)
  • Jocelyne Demengeot - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)
  • Derk Amsen - , Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Miguel P. Soares - , Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (Author)

Abstract

Regulatory T (TREG) cells develop via a program orchestrated by the transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3). Maintenance of the TREG cell lineage relies on sustained FOXP3 transcription via a mechanism involving demethylation of cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG)-rich elements at conserved non-coding sequences (CNS) in the FOXP3 locus. This cytosine demethylation is catalyzed by the ten–eleven translocation (TET) family of dioxygenases, and it involves a redox reaction that uses iron (Fe) as an essential cofactor. Here, we establish that human and mouse TREG cells express Fe-regulatory genes, including that encoding ferritin heavy chain (FTH), at relatively high levels compared to conventional T helper cells. We show that FTH expression in TREG cells is essential for immune homeostasis. Mechanistically, FTH supports TET-catalyzed demethylation of CpG-rich sequences CNS1 and 2 in the FOXP3 locus, thereby promoting FOXP3 transcription and TREG cell stability. This process, which is essential for TREG lineage stability and function, limits the severity of autoimmune neuroinflammation and infectious diseases, and favors tumor progression. These findings suggest that the regulation of intracellular iron by FTH is a stable property of TREG cells that supports immune homeostasis and limits the pathological outcomes of immune-mediated inflammation.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1445-1483
Number of pages39
JournalEMBO Journal
Volume43
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - 16 Apr 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 38499786

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Ferritin Heavy Chain, FOXP3, Iron Metabolism, Regulatory T Cells, Ten–eleven Translocation Enzymes