KLF6 contributes to myeloid cell plasticity in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation

Mucosal Immunol. 2016 Sep;9(5):1250-62. doi: 10.1038/mi.2016.1. Epub 2016 Feb 3.

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with dysregulated macrophage responses, such that quiescent macrophages acquire a pro-inflammatory activation state and contribute to chronic intestinal inflammation. The transcriptional events governing macrophage activation and gene expression in the context of chronic inflammation such as IBD remain incompletely understood. Here, we identify Kruppel-like transcription factor-6 (KLF6) as a critical regulator of pathogenic myeloid cell activation in human and experimental IBD. We found that KLF6 was significantly upregulated in myeloid cells and intestinal tissue from IBD patients and experimental models of IBD, particularly in actively inflamed regions of the colon. Using complementary gain- and loss-of-function studies, we observed that KLF6 promotes pro-inflammatory gene expression through enhancement of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) signaling, while simultaneously suppressing anti-inflammatory gene expression through repression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. To study the in vivo role of myeloid KLF6, we treated myeloid-specific KLF6-knockout mice (Mac-KLF6-KO) with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and found that Mac-KLF6-KO mice were protected against chemically-induced colitis; this highlights the central role of myeloid KLF6 in promoting intestinal inflammation. Collectively, our results point to a novel gene regulatory program underlying pathogenic, pro-inflammatory macrophage activation in the setting of chronic intestinal inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Plasticity / immunology
  • Colitis / chemically induced
  • Colitis / genetics
  • Colitis / immunology*
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / genetics
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / immunology*
  • Colitis, Ulcerative / pathology
  • Colon / immunology*
  • Colon / pathology
  • Crohn Disease / genetics
  • Crohn Disease / immunology*
  • Crohn Disease / pathology
  • Dextran Sulfate
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 6
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / immunology*
  • Macrophage Activation
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / pathology
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / immunology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / deficiency
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / immunology*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / immunology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Klf6 protein, mouse
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 6
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • NF-kappa B
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Stat3 protein, mouse
  • Dextran Sulfate