Polarization of Primary Human Monocytes by IFN-γ Induces Chromatin Changes and Recruits RNA Pol II to the TNF-α Promoter

Abstract

Monocyte polarization by IFN-γ or IL-4 drives a complex series of cellular responses leading to increased intracellular killing (IFN-γ) or enhanced healing (IL-4) among other functional responses. We studied the effect of IL-4 and IFN-γ polarization on histone modifications at the TNF-α locus in human primary monocytes. IFN-γ polarization markedly increased the expression of TNF-α, whereas IL-4 treatment decreased the expression. We found that IFN-γ alone increased histone H4 acetylation at the TNF-α promoter. The effect of IFN-γ on TNF-α expression was durable upon cytokine washout and even repolarization with IL-4. Concordantly, IFN-γ-mediated H4 acetylation was also durable. IFN-γ recruited activating transcription factor-2 via p38 to the TNF-α promoter, but inhibition of p38 had minimal effect on H4 acetylation. In a novel finding, we found that IFN-γ recruited RNA Pol II to the human TNF-α promoter via ERK signaling, but did so without initiating transcription, leading to a poised condition. These studies provide an important perspective on monocyte polarization. Polarization by IFN-γ has a durable effect on TNF-α expression, and histone acetylation may provide a mechanism for persistence of the effect.