SMAD4 TGF-β-independent function preconditions naive CD8+ T cells to prevent severe chronic intestinal inflammation

• Published in: The Journal of clinical investigation 2022-04, Vol.132 (8), p.1-19
• Main Authors: Igalouzene, Ramdane, Hernandez-Vargas, Hector, Benech, Nicolas, Guyennon, Alexandre, Bauché, David, Barrachina, Célia, Dubois, Emeric, Marie, Julien C, Soudja, Saïdi M'Homa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ablation; Abscesses; Adaptive immunology; Biomedical research; Cancer; CD103 antigen; CD8 antigen; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Cell activation; Cell fate; Colon; Cytokines; Deacetylation; Digestive system; Enhancers; Epigenetics; Epithelium; Gastroenterology; Gastrointestinal tract; Graft vs Host Disease; Histones; Homeostasis; Human health and pathology; Humans; Hyperplasia; Hépatology and Gastroenterology; Immunology; Immunoregulation; Inflammation; Inflammatory bowel disease; Inflammatory bowel diseases; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases - genetics; Interleukin 7; Intestine; Life Sciences; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes T; Microbiota; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta - metabolism; Ski protein; Smad4 protein; Smad4 Protein - genetics; Smad4 Protein - metabolism; Smad7 protein; Transcription; Transforming Growth Factor beta - metabolism; Transforming growth factor-b
• ISSN: 1558-8238; 0021-9738; 1558-8238
• DOI: 10.1172/JCI151020

SMAD4, a mediator of TGF-β signaling, plays an important role in T cells to prevent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the precise mechanisms underlying this control remain elusive. Using both genetic and epigenetic approaches, we revealed an unexpected mechanism by which SMAD4 prevents naive CD8+ T cells from becoming pathogenic for the gut. Prior to the engagement of the TGF-β receptor, SMAD4 restrains the epigenetic, transcriptional, and functional landscape of the TGF-β signature in naive CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, prior to TGF-β signaling, SMAD4 binds to promoters and enhancers of several TGF-β target genes, and by regulating histone deacetylation, suppresses their expression. Consequently, regardless of a TGF-β signal, SMAD4 limits the expression of TGF-β negative feedback loop genes, such as Smad7 and Ski, and likely conditions CD8+ T cells for the immunoregulatory effects of TGF-β. In addition, SMAD4 ablation conferred naive CD8+ T cells with both a superior survival capacity, by enhancing their response to IL-7, as well as an enhanced capacity to be retained within the intestinal epithelium, by promoting the expression of Itgae, which encodes the integrin CD103. Accumulation, epithelial retention, and escape from TGF-β control elicited chronic microbiota-driven CD8+ T cell activation in the gut. Hence, in a TGF-β-independent manner, SMAD4 imprints a program that preconditions naive CD8+ T cell fate, preventing IBD.