Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation regulates monocytic type I interferon signaling via histone acetylation

Although lipid-derived acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) is a major carbon source for histone acetylation, the contribution of fatty acid beta-oxidation (FAO) to this process remains poorly characterized. To investigate this, we generated mitochondrial acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1 (ACAT1, distal FAO enzyme) knockout macrophages. 13C-carbon tracing confirmed reduced FA-derived carbon incorporation into histone H3, and RNA sequencing identified diminished interferon-stimulated gene expression in the absence of ACAT1. Chromatin accessibility at the Stat1 locus was diminished in ACAT1-/- cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated reduced acetyl-H3 binding to Stat1 promoter/enhancer regions, and increasing histone acetylation rescued Stat1 expression. Interferon-beta release was blunted in ACAT1-/- and recovered by ACAT1 reconstitution. Furthermore, ACAT1-dependent histone acetylation required an intact acetylcarnitine shuttle. Last, obese subjects' monocytes exhibited increased ACAT1 and histone acetylation levels. Thus, our study identifies an intriguing link between FAO-mediated epigenetic control of type I interferon signaling and uncovers a potential mechanistic nexus between obesity and type I interferon signaling.