Epigenetic regulation of T cell activation via the polycomb repressive complex 2 in atherosclerosis (A05)

• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology
• Term: since 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 238187445

Many of the genes driving T cell activation in atherosclerosis are target genes of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), a complex mediating methylation of the H3K27 epigenetic mark. One of its major players is the methyltransferase EZH2. We found that deficiency of T cell-specific EZH2 induces a type II immune response, along with a decrease in atherosclerosis. The current proposal aims at deciphering the role of the trimethylation status of H3K27 in T cells during atherogenesis. We will elucidate whether targeting T-cell H3K27 trimethylation by EZH2, by the other PRC2 members SUZ12 and JARID2 as well as by the demethylase JMJD3 may be a promising candidate to treat atherosclerosis.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1123: Atherosclerosis: Mechanisms and Networks of Novel Therapeutic Targets
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Heads: Dr. Dorothee Atzler, Ph.D.; Professor Dr. Norbert Gerdes, from 1/2018 until 6/2018; Dr. Dirk Lievens, Ph.D., until 9/2014; Professorin Dr. Esther Lutgens