The major biological role of red blood cells is to carry oxygen to the tissues in the body. However, another role of the erythroid cell is to participate in the immune response. Mature erythrocytes from chickens express Toll-like receptors and several cytokines in response to stimulation of the immune system. We previously reported the application of a biochemical fractionation protocol to isolate highly enriched transcribed DNA from polychromatic erythrocytes from chickens. In conjunction with next-generation DNA, RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation-DNA sequencing, and formaldehyde-assisted isolation of regulatory elements (FAIRE) sequencing, we identified the active chromosomal compartments and determined their structural signatures in relation to expression levels. Here, we present the detailed chromatin characteristics of erythroid genes participating in the innate immune response. Our studies revealed an atypical chromatin structure for several genes coding for Toll-like receptors, interleukins, and interferon regulatory factors. The body of these genes had nucleosome-free regions intermingled with nucleosomes modified with H3K4me3 and H3K27ac, suggesting a dynamic unstable chromatin structure. We further show that human genes involved in cell identity have gene bodies with the same chromatin-instability features as the chicken polychromatic erythrocyte genes participating in the innate immune response.

中文翻译：

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鸡红细胞中表达的免疫相关基因的非典型染色质结构。

红细胞的主要生物学作用是将氧气运送到体内的组织。但是，类红细胞的另一个作用是参与免疫反应。鸡的成熟红细胞响应免疫系统的刺激而表达Toll样受体和几种细胞因子。我们先前曾报道过生化分离方案的应用，可从鸡的多色红细胞中分离高度浓缩的转录DNA。结合下一代DNA，RNA测序，染色质免疫沉淀-DNA测序和甲醛辅助分离的调控元件（FAIRE）测序，我们鉴定了活性染色体区室并确定了其与表达水平相关的结构特征。这里，我们介绍了参与先天免疫反应的类红细胞基因的详细染色质特征。我们的研究揭示了几种编码Toll样受体，白介素和干扰素调节因子的基因的非典型染色质结构。这些基因的身体具有与H3K4me3和H3K27ac修饰的核小体混杂的无核小体区域，表明存在动态不稳定的染色质结构。我们进一步表明，参与细胞身份识别的人类基因具有与参与先天免疫反应的鸡多色红细胞基因相同的染色质不稳定性特征的基因体。这些基因的身体具有与H3K4me3和H3K27ac修饰的核小体混杂的无核小体区域，表明存在动态不稳定的染色质结构。我们进一步表明，参与细胞身份识别的人类基因具有与参与先天免疫反应的鸡多色红细胞基因相同的染色质不稳定性特征的基因体。这些基因的身体具有与H3K4me3和H3K27ac修饰的核小体混杂的无核小体区域，表明存在动态不稳定的染色质结构。我们进一步表明，参与细胞身份识别的人类基因具有与参与先天免疫反应的鸡多色红细胞基因相同的染色质不稳定性特征的基因体。