Stage-specific GATA3 induction promotes ILC2 development after lineage commitment

Abstract

Abstract Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) are a subset of innate lymphocytes that produce type 2 cytokines, including IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. GATA3 is a critical transcription factor for ILC2 development at multiple stages. However, when and how GATA3 is induced to the levels required for ILC2 development remains unclear. Herein, we identify ILC2-specific GATA3-related tandem super-enhancers (G3SE) that induce high GATA3 in ILC2-committed precursors. G3SE-deficient mice exhibit ILC2 deficiency in the bone marrow, lung, liver, and small intestine with minimal impact on other ILC lineages or Th2 cells. Single-cell RNA-sequencing and subsequent flow cytometry analysis show that GATA3 induction mechanism, which is required for entering the ILC2 stage, is lost in IL-17RB+PD-1− late ILC2-committed precursor stage in G3SE-deficient mice. Cnot6l, part of the CCR4-NOT deadenylase complex, is a possible GATA3 target during ILC2 development. Our findings implicate a stage-specific regulatory mechanism for GATA3 expression during ILC2 development.