H3K36 methylation regulates cell plasticity and regeneration in the intestinal epithelium

Abstract

Plasticity is needed during development and homeostasis to generate diverse cell types from stem and progenitor cells. Following differentiation, plasticity must be restricted in specialized cells to maintain tissue integrity and function. For this reason, specialized cell identity is stable under homeostatic conditions; however, cells in some tissues regain plasticity during injury-induced regeneration. While precise gene expression controls these processes, the regulatory mechanisms that restrict or promote cell plasticity are poorly understood. Here we use the mouse small intestine as a model system to study cell plasticity. We find that H3K36 methylation reinforces expression of cell-type-associated genes to maintain specialized cell identity in intestinal epithelial cells. Depleting H3K36 methylation disrupts lineage commitment and activates regenerative gene expression. Correspondingly, we observe rapid and reversible remodelling of H3K36 methylation following injury-induced regeneration. These data suggest a fundamental role for H3K36 methylation in reinforcing specialized lineages and regulating cell plasticity and regeneration. Pashos et al. show that H3K36 methylation maintains intestinal epithelial fate commitment, whereas its suppression, which is also observed upon injury, induces a plastic state and expression of genes involved in regeneration.