Activation of insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) promotes growth of colorectal cancer through triggering the MEX3A-mediated degradation of RIG-I

Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) has been made an attractive anticancer target due to its overexpression in cancers. However, targeting it has often produced the disappointing results as the role played by cross talk with numerous downstream signalings. Here, we report a disobliging IGF-1R signaling which promotes growth of cancer through triggering the E3 ubiquitin ligase MEX3A-mediated degradation of RIG-I. The active β-arrestin-2 scaffolds this disobliging signaling to talk with MEX3A. In response to ligands, IGF-1Rβ activated the basal βarr2 into its active state by phosphorylating the interdomain domain on Tyr64 and Tyr250, opening the middle loop (Leu130‒Cys141) to the RING domain of MEX3A through the conformational changes of βarr2. The models of βarr2/IGF-1Rβ and βarr2/MEX3A could interpret the mechanism of the activated-IGF-1R in triggering degradation of RIG-I. The assay of the mutants βarr2Y64A and βarr2Y250A further confirmed the role of these two Tyr residues of the interlobe in mediating the talk between IGF-1Rβ and the RING domain of MEX3A. The truncated-βarr2 and the peptide ATQAIRIF, which mimicked the RING domain of MEX3A could prevent the formation of βarr2/IGF-1Rβ and βarr2/MEX3A complexes, thus blocking the IGF-1R-triggered RIG-I degradation. Degradation of RIG-I resulted in the suppression of the IFN-I-associated immune cells in the TME due to the blockade of the RIG-I-MAVS-IFN-I pathway. Poly(I:C) could reverse anti-PD-L1 insensitivity by recovery of RIG-I. In summary, we revealed a disobliging IGF-1R signaling by which IGF-1Rβ promoted cancer growth through triggering the MEX3A-mediated degradation of RIG-I.

Establishment of RIG-I knockout 293T cell line and its effect on the replication of influenza B virus / 生物工程学报

The CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology directs Cas9 protein to recognize, bind and cleave the target site specifically by using artificial single-guide RNA (sgRNA), through non-homologous end joining or homologous end-recombinant repair mechanisms of cells, which can be engineered to knockout or knock-in of genomes. RIG-I is a pattern recognition receptor that recognizes the 5'-triphosphate-containing RNA in the cytoplasm and activates IRF3/7 and NF-κB by interacting with the downstream signaling molecule MAVS, thus initiating the expression of type I interferons and inflammatory factors. Previous studies found that influenza B virus (IBV) can up-regulate the expression of RIG-I. In the present study, to explore whether RIG-I is the major receptor for IBV to active the antiviral innate immune response and its effect on IBV replication, RIG-I gene in 293T cells was knocked out by CRISPR-Cas9 system, and a stable RIG-I knockout 293T (RIG-I(-/-) 293T) cell line was screened by puromycin pressure. The results of Western blotting showed that RIG-I was not expressed in this cell line after IBV or Sendai virus (SeV) infection, indicating that the RIG-I(-/-) 293T cell line was successfully constructed. The transcription levels of interferons, inflammatory factors and interferon-stimulated genes in RIG-I(-/-) 293T cells which were infected by IBV decreased significantly compared with those in wild-type 293T cells. Moreover, the phosphorylation of p65 and IRF3 were not detected in IBV or SeV infected RIG-I(-/-) 293T cells. It is indicated that the expression of cytokines mainly depends on the RIG-I-mediated signaling pathway at the early stage of IBV infection. Furthermore, the multi-step growth curves of IBV in the wild type and RIG-I(-/-) 293T cells showed that RIG-I inhibited the replication of IBV. Collectively, the RIG-I knockout 293T cell line was successfully constructed. We found that RIG-I is the main receptor for IBV to active the antiviral innate immune response and is critical for inhibiting IBV replication, which lays the foundation for further study of IBV infection mechanism.

Prokaryotic expression and transmembrane transfer of fusion protein TAT-RIG-I-GFP / 生物工程学报

We studied the construction of fusion protein TAT-RIG-I-GFP prokaryotic expression vector and verified the function of TAT in transmembrane delivery. First, four pairs of specific primers were designed, and the RIG-I gene of Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) was cloned. Then, the pET-TAT-RIG-I-GFP and pET-RIG-I-GFP prokaryotic expression vectors were constructed. Meanwhile, they were converted to E. coli BL21 (DE3), which were induced to be expressed after culture. After the purification of His-60 nickel affinity chromatography column and the identification of SDS-PAGE, the purified TAT-RIG-I-GFP and RIG-I-GFP proteins were incubated to DF-1 cells. Finally, fluorescence microscopy was used to observe whether the corresponding fluorescence was produced in DF-1 cells. The results showed that pET-TAT-RIG-I-GFP fusion with TAT showed obvious green fluorescence in DF-1 cells. However, the pET-RIG-I-GFP without TAT cannot display green fluorescence. This shows that TAT-fused protein have successfully delivered DF-1 cells and play a key role in transmembrane delivery. In conclusion, these results provide a solid material basis for further study of antiviral drugs in poultry.

Roles of RIG-I in tumorigenesis and progression / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#在天然免疫应答尤其是抗病毒天然免疫应答中，维甲酸诱导基因-I（retinoic acid inducible gene I,RIG-I）是重要的胞内 病毒RNA模式识别受体，其通过结合和识别病毒来源的RNA进而活化下游RIG-I信号通路，从而激发炎症因子和I型干扰素的 表达，实现抗病毒天然免疫应答的启动。然而，新近研究表明，在肿瘤发生发展的过程中，RIG-I亦可发挥重要的调控作用。在肿 瘤进展的不同病理阶段，RIG-I可发挥抑制或促进肿瘤进展的功能。本文就RIG-I在不同肿瘤及其发生发展不同阶段所发挥的抑 癌基因或促癌基因样作用的研究进展作一综述。

Identification of new type I interferon-stimulated genes and investigation of their involvement in IFN-β activation

Virus infection induces the production of type I interferons (IFNs). IFNs bind to their heterodimeric receptors to initiate downstream cascade of signaling, leading to the up-regulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). ISGs play very important roles in innate immunity through a variety of mechanisms. Although hundreds of ISGs have been identified, it is commonly recognized that more ISGs await to be discovered. The aim of this study was to identify new ISGs and to probe their roles in regulating virus-induced type I IFN production. We used consensus interferon (Con-IFN), an artificial alpha IFN that was shown to be more potent than naturally existing type I IFN, to treat three human immune cell lines, CEM, U937 and Daudi cells. Microarray analysis was employed to identify those genes whose expressions were up-regulated. Six hundred and seventeen genes were up-regulated more than 3-fold. Out of these 617 genes, 138 were not previously reported as ISGs and thus were further pursued. Validation of these 138 genes using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) confirmed 91 genes. We screened 89 genes for those involved in Sendai virus (SeV)-induced IFN-β promoter activation, and PIM1 was identified as one whose expression inhibited SeV-mediated IFN-β activation. We provide evidence indicating that PIM1 specifically inhibits RIG-I- and MDA5-mediated IFN-β signaling. Our results expand the ISG library and identify PIM1 as an ISG that participates in the regulation of virus-induced type I interferon production.

RIG-I: a multifunctional protein beyond a pattern recognition receptor

It was widely known that retinoic acid inducible gene I (RIG-I) functions as a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor that initiates innate antiviral immunity by detecting exogenous viral RNAs. However, recent studies showed that RIG-I participates in other various cellular activities by sensing endogenous RNAs under different circumstances. For example, RIG-I facilitates the therapy resistance and expansion of breast cancer cells and promotes T cell-independent B cell activation through interferon signaling activation by recognizing non-coding RNAs and endogenous retroviruses in certain situations. While in hepatocellular carcinoma and acute myeloid leukemia, RIG-I acts as a tumor suppressor through either augmenting STAT1 activation by competitively binding STAT1 against its negative regulator SHP1 or inhibiting AKT-mTOR signaling pathway by directly interacting with Src respectively. These new findings suggest that RIG-I plays more diverse roles in various cellular life activities, such as cell proliferation and differentiation, than previously known. Taken together, the function of RIG-I exceeds far beyond that of a pattern recognition receptor.

Dependence of RIG-I Nucleic Acid-Binding and ATP Hydrolysis on Activation of Type I Interferon Response

Exogenous nucleic acids induce an innate immune response in mammalian host cells through activation of the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I). We evaluated RIG-I protein for RNA binding and ATPase stimulation with RNA ligands to investigate the correlation with the extent of immune response through RIG-I activation in cells. RIG-I protein favored blunt-ended, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) ligands over sticky-ended dsRNA. Moreover, the presence of the 5'-triphosphate (5'-ppp) moiety in dsRNA further enhanced binding affinity to RIG-I. Two structural motifs in RNA, blunt ends in dsRNA and 5'-ppp, stimulated the ATP hydrolysis activity of RIG-I. These structural motifs also strongly induced IFN expression as an innate immune response in cells. Therefore, we suggest that IFN induction through RIG-I activation is mainly determined by structural motifs in dsRNA that increase its affinity for RIG-I protein and stimulate ATPase activity in RIG-I.

La estimulación de TLR, receptores tipo NOD y dectina-1 en neutrófilos humanos induce la producción de citocinas proinflamatorias / Stimulation of TLRs, Nod-like receptors and Dectin-1 in neutrophils induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines

Objetivo: evaluar la expresión y la función de receptores de reconocimiento de patrones como los de tipo Toll y los de tipo NOD, RIG-I/MDA5, la dectina-1 y moléculas adaptadoras, en neutrófilos humanos. Métodos: a partir de sangre periférica de individuos sanos se purificaron y cultivaron neutrófilos en el medio RMPI-1640, en presencia o ausencia de los agonistas específicos de los receptores de interés. La expresión de los receptores de reconocimiento de patrones se determinó por RT-PCR y la secreción de citocinas proinflamatorias, por ELISA. Resultados: los neutrófilos expresan un amplio espectro de receptores de reconocimiento de patrones y de moléculas adaptadoras. La estimulación de TLR4, TLR5, TLR7/8 induce la secreción de IL-1β e IL-6; la activación de la dectina-1 induce una alta producción de TNF-α, pero bajos niveles de IL-1β e IL-6. Conclusión: los neutrófilos expresan un amplio número de receptores de reconocimiento de patrones y su activación lleva a la expresión de diferentes citocinas proinflamatorias.

Objective: To evaluate the expression and function of pattern recognition receptors such as Toll-like receptors, RIG-I/MDA5, NOD-like receptors, Dectin-1 and adaptor proteins, in human neutrophils. Methods: Neutrophils from peripheral blood of healthy individuals were purified and cultured in RPMI-1640, in the presence or absence of specific agonists of the receptor of interest. The expression of pattern recognition receptors was determined by RT-PCR and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, by ELISA. Results: We observed that neutrophils express diverse patterns recognition receptors and adaptor molecules. Stimulation of TLR4, TLR5 and TLR7/8 induces the production of IL-1β and IL-6, and activation of Dectin-1 leads to secretion of high levels of TNF-α, but low levels of IL-1β and IL-6. Conclusion: Neutrophils express a large number of pattern recognition receptors and their activation leads to the expression of proinflammatory cytokines.

Autophagy as an Innate Immune Modulator

Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process in eukaryotic cells for maintaining homeostasis by degrading cellular proteins and organelles. Recently, the roles of autophagy have been expanded to immune systems, which in turn modulate innate immune responses. More specifically, autophagy acts as a direct effector for protection against pathogens, as well as a modulator of pathogen recognition and downstream signaling in innate immune responses. In addition, autophagy controls autoimmunity and inflammatory disorders by negative regulation of immune signaling. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the role of autophagy in innate immune systems.

The Battle Between Influenza and the Innate Immune Response in the Human Respiratory Tract / 감염과화학요법

Influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract. Infection is normally confined to the upper respiratory tract but certain viral strains have evolved the ability to infect the lower respiratory tract, including the alveoli, leading to inflammation and a disease pattern of diffuse alveolar damage. Factors leading to this sequence of events are novel influenza strains, or strains that have viral proteins, in particular the NS1 protein that allow it to escape the innate immune system. There are three main barriers that prevent infection of pneumocytes - mucin, host defence lectins and cells such as macrophages. Viruses have developed strategies such as neuraminidase and glycosylation patterns that allow this evasion. Though there has been much investment in antiviral drugs, it is proposed that more attention should be directed towards developing or utilizing compounds that enhance the ability of the innate immune system to combat viral infection.

Viral recognition by the innate immune system: the role of pattern recognition receptors / Reconocimiento viral por el sistema inmune innato: papel de los receptores de reconocimiento de patrones

Pattern recognition receptors are the main sensors of the innate immune response. Their function is to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns, which are molecules essential for the survival of microbial pathogens, but are not produced by the host. The recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by pattern recognition receptors leads to the expression of cytokines, chemokines, and co-stimulatory molecules that eliminate pathogens, such as viruses, for the activation of antigen presenting cells and for the activation of specific adaptive immunity. Among the most thoroughly studied pattern recognition receptors implicated in viral infections, there are the toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the RNA helicase-type retinoic acid-inducible gene-1 receptors [or RIG-like receptors (RLRs)]. Moreover, other proteins such as PKR, 2’-5’ OAS, and ADAR also act as effector proteins in antiviral responses. The identification and characterization of pattern recognition receptors have contributed to our knowledge of the role of innate immunity in viral infections and has led us to better understand host-pathogen interactions. The most recent findings concerning the role of TLRs and RLRs in viral infections, the molecular mechanisms of viral ligand recognition through pattern recognition receptors, and the activation of their signaling pathways are discussed in this review.

Los receptores de reconocimiento de patrones (PRR) son los principales sensores de la respuesta inmune innata. Su función es reconocer moléculas indispensables para la sobrevivencia de los patógenos, conocidas como patrones moleculares asociados a patógenos (PAMP). El reconocimiento de los PAMP por los PRR conlleva a la expresión de citoquinas, quimioquinas, y moléculas coestimuladoras implicadas en la eliminación de patógenos como virus, en la activación de células presentadoras de antígenos y en la inducción de una inmunidad adaptativa específica. Entre los PRR mejor descritos y con implicaciones en infecciones virales se encuentran los receptores tipo toll (TLR) y receptores tipo RNA helicasas inducibles por ácido retinoico (RLR); además las proteínas efectoras PKR, 2´-5´ OAS y ADAR también participan activamente en la respuesta antiviral. La descripción y caracterización de los PRR ha contribuido enormemente al entendimiento del papel de la respuesta inmune innata en las infecciones virales y han sido usados para comprender mejor las interacciones hospedero-patógenos. Se discuten en la presente revisión los más recientes conocimientos de los TLR y RLR, el mecanismo de reconocimiento de los virus vía PRRs y las vías de señalización activadas por dicho reconocimiento.

Activation of Innate Immune System During Viral Infection: Role of Pattern-recognition Receptors (PRRs) in Viral Infection

Innate immunity and adaptive immunity are two major immune responses against pathogens. Innate immunity is responsible for the immediate immune response to pathogens. Pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) play an important role in innate immune response. PRRs recognize regular patterns of molecule structure known as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Among the PRRs, Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), and DNA-dependent activator of interferon regulatory factors (DAI) display key roles in response to viral infections. This article reviews how viral infections activate PRR-PAMP signal pathways and how viruses evade immune responses elicited by PRR signal pathways.

Recent Advance on Cellular Signal Transduction in Response to Virus Infections / 生物化学与生物物理进展

How the hosts recognize and clear invading viruses is one of the key issues in molecular immunology. Previous studies uncovered that many early antiviral proteins, such as Type Ⅰ interferons and PKR, are strongly induced upon virus infection. These proteins not only limit virus replication and spread or cause infected cells to undergo apoptosis, but also induce consequently expression of cytokines and chemokines to initiate acquired immunity. However, the immediate-early signaling events among host and virus interaction were largely unknown. In the past few years, there are great breakthroughs in this rapidly evolving field. TLR3 and RIG-I/MDA5 signaling pathways were shown to play a crucial regulatory role in antiviral processes. These pathways are essential for the vertebrate immune system to recognize and clear RNA virus with different strategies, which are integral parts of innate immune response and directly affect later-stage acquired immunity. The recent know-how on TLR3 and RIG-I/MDA5 signal transduction pathways and their roles in antiviral immunity were summarized.

Prokaryotic expression,purification and polyclonal antibody preparation of C terminal Helicase domain of mouse Rig-I / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To develop a highly efficacious and sensitive immunological reagent for further investigation on the retinoic acid-induced gene I (Rig-I) of mouse .Methods:The Helicase domain coding region (726-2 240 bp) of mRig-I-H was cloned into plasmid pET15b (+) to construct the recombinant plasmid pET15b(+)-mRig-I-H.Then the plasmid was transformed into E.coli BL21 for protein expression.Rabbits were immunized with electrophoresis-purified recombinant protein to obtain the polyclonal antibody against mRig-I-H.The titer of polyclonal antibody was detected by ELISA and the specificity was identified by Western blot and Immunofluorescence.Results:The recombinant protein was expressed successfully in E.coli.Western blot analysis showed that target protein was expressed with a molecular weight of 40 kD.Titer of the polyclonal antibody was about 1∶1?105 by ELISA assay.With this antibody,we could detect the expression of Rig-I in RAW 264.7 cell line by Western blot and Immunofluorescence.Conclusion:The high level expression of Rig-I Helicase domain is induced in E.coli expressing system.Anti-mRig-I-H polyclonal antibody with high titer and fine specificity could be a novel tool in future investigation of Rig-I.