The transcription factor Zeb2 regulates development of conventional and plasmacytoid DCs by repressing Id2

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) develop from pre-pDCs, while two lineages of conventional DCs (cDC1s and cDC2s) develop from lineage-committed pre-cDCs. A number of transcription factors (TFs) have been implicated in regulating the development of pDCs (E2-2, Id2) and cDC1s (IRF8, Id2 and Batf3) however, those required for the early commitment of pre-cDCs towards the cDC2 lineage are unknown. Here we identified the TF Zinc finger E box binding homeobox 2 (Zeb2), to play a crucial role in regulating DC development. Zeb2 was expressed from the pre-pDC and pre-cDC stage onwards, and highly expressed in mature pDCs and cDC2s. Mice conditionally lacking Zeb2 in CD11c+ cells had a cell intrinsic reduction in pDCs and cDC2s, coupled with an increase in cDC1s. Conversely, mice in which CD11c+ cells overexpressed Zeb2 displayed a reduction in cDC1s. This was accompanied by altered expression of Id2, which was upregulated in cDC2s and pDCs from conditional knock-out mice. Zeb2 ChIP analysis revealed Id2 to be a direct target of Zeb2. Thus, we conclude that Zeb2 regulates commitment to both the cDC2 and pDC lineages through repression of Id2.