The SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling subunit DPF2 regulates macrophage inflammation in intestinal injury via the CACNA1D-mediated MAPK pathway

M Mintao Ji (Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University) H Haisheng Liang (Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University) S Shuai Dong (Southeast University , , ,) Y Yuhan Guo (State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University) Y Yiping Lin (State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University) H Hong Zhang Y Yuhong Wang (Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University) Z Zhe Lei (Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University) X Xiaoya Xu (Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University) Y Yinyin Shu (Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University) Z Zhisen Zhang (State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University) X Xiaoni Jin (State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University) S Shuangshuang Lu (State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University) W Wensheng Zhang L Lingchuan Guo (Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University) C Chunlin Shao (Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University) L Lei Chang (Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.)

Abstract

The immune system plays a pivotal role in pathogenesis of intestinal injury and subsequent regenerative processes, particularly macrophages, orchestrate the inflammatory response and tissue repair. Here, we identified that loss of double PHD fingers 2 (DPF2) enhances intestinal regeneration and reduces inflammation. Using a combination of mouse genetics, single cell RNA sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics, we found that Dpf2 loss in macrophage modulates inflammatory polarization, thus protecting against intestinal injury. Mechanistically, Dpf2 deficiency leads to loss of H3K27ac and H3K4me1 marks at Cacna1d enhancer, impairing Cacna1d messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and reducing intracellular calcium. Consequently, loss of Dpf2 attenuates mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling activity, promoting an anti-inflammatory macrophage polarization. Finally, through analysis of clinical inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) single cell RNA and spatial transcriptome data, patient-derived organoids and clinical samples, we validated a positive correlation between DPF2, CACNA1D, and intestinal inflammation. Our findings establish an essential role for DPF2 in facilitating CACNA1D expression in macrophages to regulate intestinal inflammation and regeneration.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 46
Published November 18, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (17)

M

Mintao Ji

Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University

H

Haisheng Liang

Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University

S

Shuai Dong

Southeast University , , ,

Y

Yuhan Guo

State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University

Y

Yiping Lin

State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University

H

Hong Zhang

Y

Yuhong Wang

Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University

Z

Zhe Lei

Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University

X

Xiaoya Xu

Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University

Y

Yinyin Shu

Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University

Z

Zhisen Zhang

State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University

X

Xiaoni Jin

State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University

S

Shuangshuang Lu

State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University

W

Wensheng Zhang

L

Lingchuan Guo

Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University

C

Chunlin Shao

Institute of Radiation Medicine, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University

L

Lei Chang

Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.