WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) genes are key regulators of meristem activity and plant development, the chromatin mechanism of which to reprogram gene expression remains unclear. Histone H3K27me3 is a chromatin mark of developmentally repressed genes. How the repressive mark is removed from specific genes during plant development is largely unknown. Here, we show that WOX11 interacts with the H3K27me3 demethylase JMJ705 to activate gene expression during shoot development in rice. Genetic analysis indicates that WOX11 and JMJ705 cooperatively control shoot growth and commonly regulate the expression of a set of genes involved in meristem identity, chloroplast biogenesis, and energy metabolism in the shoot apex. Loss of WOX11 led to increased H3K27me3 and overexpression of JMJ705 decreased the methylation levels at a subset of common targets. JMJ705 is associated with most of the WOX11-binding sites found in the tested common targets in vivo, regardless of presence or absence of the JMJ705-binding motif. Furthermore, wox11 mutation reduced JMJ705-binding to many targets genome-wide. The results suggest that recruitment of JMJ705 to specific developmental pathway genes is promoted by DNA-binding transcription factors and that WOX11 functions to stimulate shoot growth through epigenetic reprogramming of genes involved in meristem development and energy-generating pathways.

B cells, commonly regarded as proinflammatory antibody-producing cells, are detrimental to individuals with autoimmune diseases. However, in recent years, several studies have shown that regulatory B (Breg) cells, an immunosuppressive subset of B cells, may exert protective effects against autoimmune diseases by secretion of inhibitory cytokines such as IL-10. In practice, Breg cells are identified by their production of immune-regulatory cytokines, such as IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-35, however, no specific marker or Breg cell-specific transcription factor has been identified. Multiple phenotypes of Breg cells have been found, whose functions vary according to their phenotype. This review summarizes the discovery, phenotypes, development, and function of Breg cells and highlights their potential therapeutic value in kidney diseases.

B cells can be polarized to express various cytokines. The roles of IFNγ and IL-10, expressed respectively by B effector 1 (Be1) and Bregs, have been established in pathogen clearance, tumor growth, autoimmunity and allograft rejection. However, the in vivo role of B cell IL-4, produced by Be2 cells, remains to be established. We developed B-IL-4/13 iKO mice carrying a tamoxifen-inducible B cell-specific deletion of IL-4 and IL-13. After alloimmunization, B-IL-4/13 iKO mice exhibited decreased IL-4+ Th2 cells and IL-10+ Bregs without impact on Th1, Tregs, or CD8 T cell responses. B-IL-4/13 iKO mice rejected islet allografts more rapidly, even when treated with tolerogenic anti-TIM-1 mAb. In ovalbumin-induced allergic airway disease (AAD), B-IL-4/13 iKO mice had reduced inflammatory cells in BAL, and preserved lung histology with markedly decreased infiltration by IL-4+ and IL-5+ CD4+ T cells. Hence, B cell IL-4 is a major driver of Th2 responses in vivo which promotes allograft survival, and conversely, worsens AAD.

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