Nuclear adenine activation of hnRNPA2B1 promotes IL-1 transcription in antibacterial innate immunity [ATAC-seq]

Deciphering the rapid expression and the underlying mechanisms of antibacterial effectors is critical to host defense against bacterial infection. Bacterial infection can reprogram cellular metabolism, however, the immunometabolism and its cross-talk with epigenetics in the regulation of antibacterial innate immunity remain to be fully understood. Here we report that nuclear hnRNPA2B1 is required to antibacterial innate response by promoting Il1b transcription. Myeloid-specific Hnrnpa2b1-deficient mice are susceptible to bacterial infection, resulting from IL-1β production insufficiency. The screenings identify the metabolite adenine in the nucleus to be able to bind and activate hnRNPA2B1. Adenine directly recruits hnRNPA2B1 to Il1b enhancers for increasing chromatin accessibility to promote Il1b transcription through NCL and FTO-mediated DNA 6mA demethylation of Il1b gene enhancers. Furthermore, bacterial infection elevates nuclear adenine levels, and in vivo administration of adenine protects mice from bacterial infection through hnRNPA2B1-IL1 circuit. Our findings provide an undiscovered paradigm of cross-regulation between epigenetic and metabolic pathways in antibacterial innate immunity, adding insight and proposing new approach to the treatment of bacterial infections.