Title: Epigenetic Regulation of B Cell Response
Speaker: Chan-Wang Lio, PhD, La Jolla Institute
Host: Chyung-Ru Wang, PhD
Topic:
The B-cell-mediated antibody response is essential for the protection against pathogens. Following maturation, B cells progressively demethylate their DNA, a process with unknown physiological significance and consequence. Here, we showed that TET (Ten-Eleven Translocation)-mediated DNA modification and demethylation are required for efficient antibody isotype switching in B cells. The 5-methylcytosine oxidases TETs modify the DNA at the super-enhancer and facilitate the expression of AID (Activation-induced cytidine deaminase), the essential enzyme for antibody maturation. Thus, our study shows that proper epigenetic regulation in B cells is fundamental to a productive antibody response. Further investigations of the epigenome may provide new avenues to modulate and improve vaccination outcomes.