Research Article

Epigenetically Mediated Pathogenic Effects of Phenanthrene on Regulatory T Cells

Figure 6

AhR, DNMT1, and DNMT3b mediate Phe's effects on Treg. (a) Treg purified from healthy donors ( ) were treated with 300 nM Phe (black bars) or diluent (grey bars) for 2 days followed by quantification of AhR, DNMT1, and DNMT3b transcript by QT-PCR. Treg function, (b) FOXP3 locus methylation (c), and FOXP3 transcript (d) were assessed in 7-day Treg cultures treated with diluent (grey) and Phe (black) or co-incubation with Phe and the DNMT inhibitor decitabine (1 uM; red), AhR inhibitor 3′,4′-dimethoxy-flavone (10 uM; blue) or both inhibitors (purple). (e) Conversion of Treg to Teff in 7-day cultures treated with Phe + 3′DMF.
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