Inhibition of anti-viral responses in intestinal epithelial cells by epigenetic modifying drugs is mediated by a reduction in viral pattern recognition receptor expression and activity

Background: Pattern recognition receptors form an essential part of the host defenses against pathogens, in particular in the intestinal epithelium. However, despite their importance relatively little is understood about the regulation of their expression. Increasing evidence suggesting that epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation have substantial effects on gene expression and regulation. Epigenetic modifying drugs are now used to treat certain cancers but not a lot is known about their effects on the innate immune system. Thus, we set out to examine the role of such drugs in the expression and function of Toll-like receptors. Methods: Using the HCT116 epithelial cell line, we determined the effects of genetic knockout of the DNA methyltransferases enzymes (DNMTs), as well as pharmacological inhibition of the DNMTs and histone deacetylase complexes (HDACs) on TLR responses to their ligands. Results: Our initial results showed that anti-viral responses were affected by changes in the epigenome, with TLR3 responses showing the most dramatic differences. We determined that inhibition of methylation and acetylation inhibited poly I:C induced increases in signaling protein phosphorylation, as well as increases in cytokine mRNA expression and release. We also observed that treatment with epigenetic modifying drugs were leading to large increases in IRF8 expression, a protein that is a known negative regulator of TLR3. When we overexpressed IRF8 in our WT cells we noticed inhibition of poly I:C responses. Conclusion: This research highlighted the potential immunoregulatory role of epigenetic modifying drugs specifically in response to viral stimulation.