Methods: We used in vitro and in vivo models, including a HuR over-expression transgenic system, as well as a tissue specific HuR conditional knock out mouse (HuRfl/fl) to ablate HuR in T cells. Additionally, we also used siRNA and lentiviral shRNA to knock-down HuR.
Results: HuR over expression stabilized GATA-3, IL-4 and IL-13 mRNAs, leading to significant increases at both mRNA and protein levels for these genes. Conversely, HuR knock down using lentiviral shRNAs produced opposite results. These findings were confirmed in human lymphocytes, indicating potential clinical relevance to disease. We verified that GATA-3 is a HuR target using a combination of IP and biotin pull downs and defined HuR binding sites. Interestingly, Th2 polarized cells with reduced HuR levels (26%) from conditional HuRfl/+ knockout mice, had significant decreases in IL-4, IL-13 and GATA-3 mRNA but not protein. Surprisingly, CD4+ Th2 polarized cells from homozygous HuRfl/fl mice with pronounced HuR knockdown (93%) showed significant increased IL-4 and IL-13 expression at both mRNA and protein levels but no changes in GATA-3 or IFN-γ. We measured both nascent mRNA transcription and stability for IL-4 and IL-13 mRNAs and found differential regulation.
Conclusions: These data suggest there may be a critical range of HuR protein levels which regulates Th2 differentiation by interacting with different target genes. Further studies defining how RBP proteins can regulate GATA-3 and Th2 cytokine gene expression will be critical for elucidating posttranscriptional control of Th2 differentiation and of allergic lung inflammation.