Memory T cells, essential for long-term immune defence against infectious diseases, rely on mechanisms that remain largely unexplained, particularly regarding their persistent reactivity without direct antigen exposure.

The Pace Lab has discovered that SUV39H1, a histone methyl-transferase, plays a critical role in the epigenetic regulation of memory T cell differentiation by methylating lysine 9 of histone H3 (H3K9me3), emphasising the importance of heterochromatin. The study aims to elucidate the epigenetic landscape of memory T cells and understand how SUV39H1 contributes to their longevity by applying novel low-input chromatin profiling techniques to map histone modifications and cytosine methylation specifically in these cells. By integrating these methods with immune phenotyping in mouse models, this research seeks to reveal the epigenetic underpinnings of T cell memory following bacterial infection, potentially advancing our knowledge of immune memory mechanisms.

Matthieu Boulard (EMBL), Kyung-Min Noh (EMBL), Lugia Pace (IIGM Candiolo)