Zinc finger protein ZFPM1
positive regulation of type II interferon production
Zinc finger protein, multitype 1, suppresses human Th2 development via downregulation of IL-4.
<h4>Background</h4>Among several GATA family transcription factor-associating proteins, zinc finger protein, multitype 1 (ZFPM1), at least that of murine origin, has been shown to modulate the activity of GATA-3. However, the functional role of human ZFPM1 in the immune system has not been elucidated. Therefore, we here investigated the contribution of ZFPM1 to human Th1/Th2 differentiation.<h4>Methods</h4>The cDNA of ZFPM1 was cloned and introduced into human cord blood CD4+ T cells by a lentiviral transduction system. Then, the expression of IL-4 and IFN-γ mRNA was determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The effect of ZFPM1 on the promoter activity of IL-4 and IFN-γ in Jurkat cells was also investigated.<h4>Results</h4>Stimulation-induced expression of IL-4 and IFN-γ in human CD4+ T cells was suppressed and enhanced, respectively, by the introduction of ZFPM1. The transcriptional activity of IL-4 was also diminished by ZFPM1, whereas that of IFN-γ was not affected.<h4>Conclusion</h4>ZFPM1 that facilitates human Th1 differentiation via the downregulation of IL-4 is a potential target for the treatment of allergic diseases.