Selective, stable demethylation of the interleukin-2 gene enhances transcription by an active process

ABSTRACT A role for DNA demethylation in transcriptional regulation of genes expressed in differentiated somatic cells remains controversial. Here, we define a small region in the

promoter-enhancer of the interleukin-2 (_Il2_) gene that demethylates in T lymphocytes following activation, and remains demethylated thereafter. This epigenetic change was necessary and

sufficient to enhance transcription in reporter plasmids. The demethylation process started as early as 20 minutes after stimulation and was not prevented by a G1 to S phase cell cycle

inhibitor that blocks DNA replication. These results imply that this demethylation process proceeds by an active enzymatic mechanism. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is

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IN EFFECTOR T CELLS DEPENDS ON DNA DEMETHYLATION OVER A DEVELOPMENTALLY ESTABLISHED STIMULUS-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT Article Open access 18 March 2022 WHOLE-GENOME PROFILING OF DNA METHYLATION

AND HYDROXYMETHYLATION IDENTIFIES DISTINCT REGULATORY PROGRAMS AMONG INNATE LYMPHOCYTES Article 24 March 2022 THE EPIGENETIC PIONEER EGR2 INITIATES DNA DEMETHYLATION IN DIFFERENTIATING

MONOCYTES AT BOTH STABLE AND TRANSIENT BINDING SITES Article Open access 10 March 2021 ACCESSION CODES ACCESSIONS GENBANK/EMBL/DDBJ * AF399982 * M13879 REFERENCES * Dutton, R.W., Bradley,

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CAS  Google Scholar  Download references ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank G. Felsenfeld, R. Germain and F. Magdinier for critical reading of the manuscript, and B. Winders, J.K. Friend and M. Hsie

for technical assistance. AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National

Institutes of Health, Bethesda, 20892-0420, MD, USA Denis Bruniquel & Ronald H. Schwartz Authors * Denis Bruniquel View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed 

Google Scholar * Ronald H. Schwartz View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Ronald H. Schwartz. ETHICS

DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no competing financial interests. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Bruniquel, D.,

Schwartz, R. Selective, stable demethylation of the interleukin-2 gene enhances transcription by an active process. _Nat Immunol_ 4, 235–240 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni887 Download

citation * Received: 04 November 2002 * Accepted: 21 December 2002 * Published: 27 January 2003 * Issue Date: 01 March 2003 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ni887 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you

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