Recruitment of histone deacetylase 4 by transcription factors represses interieukin-5 transcription

The critical role of IL-5 (interleukin-5) in eosinophilic inflammation implicates it as a therapeutic target for allergic diseases. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the molecular basis for the involvement of reversible historic acetylation in IL-5 transcriptional regulation. We provide evidence that HDAC4 (histone deacetylase 4) and p300, a known HAT (histone acetyltransferase), reversibly controlled the activity of the IL-5 promoter in vivo and in vitro, with a concurrent alteration of histone H3 acetylation status at the promoter regions. The nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of HDAC4 was shown to play an important role in the suppressive function of HDAC4 in IL-5 gene expression. Point mutation and reporter ChIP (chromatin immunoprecipitation) studies determined that the four transcription factors binding on the IL-5 promoter, i.e. C/EBP beta (CAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta), GATA3 (GATA binding protein 3), NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) and YY1 (Yin and Yang 1), were essential for the recruitment of HDAC4. Consistent with these observations, HDAC4 was found to form protein complexes with GATA3 and YY1, and to co-exist in the nuclei with GATA3. We propose that the unique regulatory mechanism of IL-5 gene transcription involves the reversible histone modification catalysed by HDAC4 and p300, which are recruited by the transcription factors. The dynamic balance in IL-5 transcriptional regulation is achieved through interactions among HATS/HDACs, histones and transcription factors. These data contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms of IL-5 regulation, which is crucial to the development of new therapeutic strategies for IL-5-related allergic diseases.