C/EBPδ-induced epigenetic changes control the dynamic gene transcription of <i>S100a8</i> and <i>S100a9</i>.

Abstract

The proinflammatory alarmins S100A8 and S100A9 are among the most abundant proteins in neutrophils and monocytes but are completely silenced after differentiation to macrophages. The molecular mechanisms of the extraordinarily dynamic transcriptional regulation of <i>S100a8</i> and <i>S100a9</i> genes, however, are only barely understood. Using an unbiased genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout (KO)-based screening approach in immortalized murine monocytes, we identified the transcription factor C/EBPδ as a central regulator of <i>S100a8</i> and <i>S100a9</i> expression. We showed that S100A8/A9 expression and thereby neutrophil recruitment and cytokine release were decreased in C/EBPδ KO mice in a mouse model of acute lung inflammation. <i>S100a8</i> and <i>S100a9</i> expression was further controlled by the C/EBPδ antagonists ATF3 and FBXW7. We confirmed the clinical relevance of this regulatory network in subpopulations of human monocytes in a clinical cohort of cardiovascular patients. Moreover, we identified specific C/EBPδ-binding sites within <i>S100a8</i> and <i>S100a9</i> promoter regions, and demonstrated that C/EBPδ-dependent JMJD3-mediated demethylation of H3K27me₃ is indispensable for their expression. Overall, our work uncovered C/EBPδ as a novel regulator of <i>S100a8</i> and <i>S100a9</i> expression. Therefore, C/EBPδ represents a promising target for modulation of inflammatory conditions that are characterized by <i>S100a8</i> and <i>S100a9</i> overexpression.