Comparative analysis of the DNA methylation landscape in CD4, CD8, and B memory lineages

BACKGROUND: There is considerable evidence that epigenetic mechanisms and DNA methylation are critical drivers of immune cell lineage differentiation and activation. However, there has been limited coordinated investigation of common epigenetic pathways among cell lineages. Further, it remains unclear if long-lived memory cell subtypes differentiate distinctly by cell lineages. RESULTS: We used the Illumina EPIC array to investigate the consistency of DNA methylation in B cell, CD4 T, and CD8 T naïve and memory cells states. In the process of naïve to memory activation across the three lineages, we identify considerable shared epigenetic regulation at the DNA level for immune memory generation. Further, in central to effector memory differentiation, our analyses revealed specific CpG dinucleotides and genes in CD4 T and CD8 T cells with DNA methylation changes. Finally, we identified unique DNA methylation patterns in terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) CD8 T cells compared to other CD8 T memory cell subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that epigenetic alterations are widespread and essential in generating human lymphocyte memory. Unique profiles are involved in methylation changes that accompany memory genesis in the three subtypes of lymphocytes. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13148-022-01399-0.