Protocol to evaluate cell lineage stability of mouse natural and induced regulatory T cells using bisulfite sequencing

Abstract

The establishment of regulatory T cells (Treg)-specific demethylation regions (TSDRs) is essential for the Treg-lineage stability. Here, we present a protocol using bisulfite sequencing to assess Treg-lineage stability. The protocol describes the isolation of lymphocytes and DNA extraction, followed by bisulfite conversion in unmethylated CpG DNA, bisulfite PCR and cloning, and sequencing to define the TSDR methylation. This protocol uses lymph nodes and spleen tissues and can be adapted to assess the methylation status of Tregs in other tissue types.

Keywords: Cell biology; Cell isolation; Flow cytometry/Mass cytometry; Genetics; Immunology; Molecular biology; Sequencing.