LAUSR

Epigenetic modifications affect the differentiation of T cell subsets and the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, but many mechanisms of epigenetic regulation of T cell differentiation are unclear. Here we show reduced expression of the transcription factor RFX1 in CD4+ T cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, which leads to IL-17A overexpression through increased histone H3 acetylation and decreased DNA methylation and H3K9 tri-methylation. Conditional deletion of Rfx1 in mice exacerbates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and pristane-induced lupus-like syndrome and increases induction of Th17 cells. In vitro, Rfx1 deficiency increases the differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into Th17 cells, but this effect can be reversed by forced expression of Rfx1. Importantly, RFX1 functions downstream of STAT3 and phosphorylated STAT3 can inhibit RFX1 expression, highlighting a non-canonical pathway that regulates differentiation of Th17 cells. Collectively, our findings identify a unique role for RFX1 in Th17-related autoimmune diseases.Th17 cells are a common pathogenic effector cell in autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Here the authors show that the transcription factor RFX1 limits Th17 differentiation and is protective against the pathogenesis of Th17-driven autoimmune diseases.