Deficiency of SATB1 in naive CD4+ T cells alters the 3D chromatin structure and promotes T cell aging [RNA-seq]

However, the regulatory factors and molecular mechanisms that influence T cell aging remain unclear. We have previously discovered that the nuclear matrix-binding protein SATB1, a regulatory protein essential for the three-dimensional (3D) genome organization of T cells, plays a pivotal role in T cell activation and the expression of inflammatory genes.

Our preliminary results further indicate that during T cell aging, SATB1 expression markedly decreases, resulting in alterations in the 3D genome organization through modulation of CTCF-mediated chromatin interactions. These structural changes subsequently affect the gene expression profile of T cells, thereby promoting the progression of T cell aging. This study aims to further elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which the downregulation of SATB1 remodels the 3D genome organization of T cells, and investigate the protective effects of restoring SATB1 expression on T cell aging.