[Effects and molecular mechanism of histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 on regulating sepsis-induced T cell dysfunction].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect and mechanism of histone methyltransferase enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) on sepsis-induced T cell dysfunction.

METHODS

Twenty-four male C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups randomly: sham operated group, sepsis model group [cecum ligation and puncture (CLP)+dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) group] and EZH2 selective inhibitor treated group (CLP+GSK126 group), with 8 mice in each group. Sepsis murine model was reproduced by CLP. CLP+DMSO group and CLP+GSK126 group were treated with DMSO or GSK126 (10 mg/kg) respectively right after surgery through intraperitoneal injection. The mice were sacrificed 24 hours after operation, and the mesenteric lymph nodes were collected. The expression of EZH2, apoptosis rates, cell proliferation marker ki-67 antigen positive T lymphocytes (ki-67 cell), interferon-γ positive T lymphocytes (IFN-γ cell), programmed death receptor-1 positive T lymphocytes (PD-1 cell) and programmed death-ligand 1 positive T lymphocytes (PD-L1 cell) were determined by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Compared with sham operated group, the expression of EZH2 in T lymphocytes was up-regulated on mesenteric lymph nodes of CLP+DMSO group. Compared with CLP+DMSO group, the ratio of CD3 T lymphocytes in CLP+GSK126 group was up-regulated (0.70±0.02 vs. 0.50±0.07, P < 0.01), indicating that the EZH2 inhibitor could increase the number of T lymphocytes in lymph nodes of septic mice; the ratio of ki-67 cells in CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes in CLP+GSK126 group was increased (CD4: 0.74±0.05 vs. 0.63±0.04, CD8: 0.82±0.06 vs. 0.70±0.04, both P < 0.05), indicating that the EZH2 inhibitor could increase the ratio of T lymphocytes with high proliferative activity in lymph nodes of septic mice. However, no significant difference was found on both CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes apoptosis rates in the mesenteric lymph nodes of mice between CLP+GSK126 group and CLP+DMSO group [CD4: (21.53±2.87)% vs. (20.48±3.21)%, CD8: (8.34±1.02)% vs. (7.71±1.38)%, both P > 0.05], indicating that no extra T lymphocytes apoptosis was induced by EZH2 inhibitor. Compared with CLP+DMSO group, the ratios of IFN-γ CD4 and IFN-γ CD8 T lymphocytes were increased in CLP+GSK126 group (IFN-γ CD4: 0.31±0.11 vs. 0.14±0.06, IFN-γ CD8: 0.30±0.10 vs. 0.13±0.06, both P < 0.05), suggesting that secretion of IFN-γ in lymph nodes by sepsis T lymphocytes was augmented after EZH2 inhibitor administration. Furthermore, compared with CLP+DMSO group, the ratio of PD-1 cell in CD8 T lymphocyte was down-regulated in CLP+GSK126 group (0.092±0.006 vs. 0.135±0.004, P < 0.01), suggesting that EZH2 inhibitor restrained the PD-1 expression on sepsis lymphoid node CD8 T lymphocytes, however, it had no significant effect on PD-L1 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

EZH2, regulates sepsis-induced T lymphocyte dysfunction, possibly through modulating the expression of PD-1.