Tcf1 and Lef1 provide constant supervision to mature CD8⁺ T cell identity and function by organizing genomic architecture.

Abstract

T cell identity is established during thymic development, but how it is maintained in the periphery remains unknown. Here we show that ablating Tcf1 and Lef1 transcription factors in mature CD8⁺ T cells aberrantly induces genes from non-T cell lineages. Using high-throughput chromosome-conformation-capture sequencing, we demonstrate that Tcf1/Lef1 are important for maintaining three-dimensional genome organization at multiple scales in CD8⁺ T cells. Comprehensive network analyses coupled with genome-wide profiling of chromatin accessibility and Tcf1 occupancy show the direct impact of Tcf1/Lef1 on the T cell genome is to promote formation of extensively interconnected hubs through enforcing chromatin interaction and accessibility. The integrative mechanisms utilized by Tcf1/Lef1 underlie activation of T cell identity genes and repression of non-T lineage genes, conferring fine control of various T cell functionalities. These findings suggest that Tcf1/Lef1 control global genome organization and help form intricate chromatin-interacting hubs to facilitate promoter-enhancer/silencer contact, hence providing constant supervision of CD8⁺ T cell identity and function.