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Updated: Feb 22, 2026

The Use of Flow Cytometry to Assess the State of Chromatin in T Cells
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H3K27 Methylation Dynamics during CD4 T Cell Activation: Regulation of JAK/STAT and IL12RB2 Expression by JMJD3

Sarah A LaMere1, Ryan C Thompson2, Xiangzhi Meng2

  • 1Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037 salamere@ucsd.edu.

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|September 27, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic changes, specifically H3K27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) demethylation, occur early during CD4 T cell activation. This dynamic epigenetic modification, driven by JMJD3, is crucial for T cell function and gene expression.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The dynamic epigenetic landscape of CD4 T cell activation is not fully understood.
  • Early changes in epigenetic marks during T cell activation require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the dynamic changes in promoter H3K27me3 during human naive and memory CD4 T cell activation.
  • To investigate the role of the H3K27 demethylase JMJD3 in regulating CD4 T cell differentiation and function.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of promoter H3K27me3 modifications in naive and memory CD4 T cells post-activation.
  • Inhibition of JMJD3 in naive CD4 T cells to assess its impact on gene expression and T cell differentiation.

Main Results:

  • Demethylation of H3K27me3 occurs early (1 day) after CD4 T cell activation in both naive and memory cells.
  • H3K27me3 demethylation correlates with increased expression of target genes.
  • JMJD3 inhibition in naive CD4 T cells impairs the expression of critical differentiation molecules like JAK2 and IL12RB2.

Conclusions:

  • H3K27me3 is a dynamic epigenetic mark critical for CD4 T cell activation.
  • JMJD3-mediated H3K27me3 demethylation is essential for regulating gene expression and ensuring proper CD4 T cell function and differentiation.

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