ABSTRACT
Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF) can activate NF-κB to induce pro-inflammatory genes but can also stimulate the caspase cascade to promote apoptosis. Here we show that deficiency of the ubiquitin E3 ligase, Pellino3, sensitizes cells to TNF-induced apoptosis without inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. Suppressed expression of Pellino3 leads to enhanced formation of the death-induced signalling complex, complex II, in response to TNF. We show that Pellino3 targets RIP1, in a TNF-dependent manner, to inhibit TNF-induced complex II formation and caspase 8-mediated cleavage of RIP1 in response to TNF/cycloheximide co-stimulation. Pellino3-deficient mice also show increased sensitivity to TNF-induced apoptosis and greatly increased lethality in response to TNF administration. These findings define Pellino3 as a novel regulator of TNF signalling and an important determining factor in dictating whether TNF induces cell survival or death.
Subject(s)
Apoptosis/genetics , Fibroblasts/metabolism , GTPase-Activating Proteins/genetics , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/genetics , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics , Animals , Apoptosis/drug effects , Caspase 8/genetics , Caspase 8/metabolism , Cell Survival/drug effects , Cycloheximide/pharmacology , Fibroblasts/cytology , Fibroblasts/drug effects , GTPase-Activating Proteins/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation , HEK293 Cells , HeLa Cells , Humans , Mice , Mice, Knockout , NF-kappa B/genetics , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Primary Cell Culture , Signal Transduction , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/deficiencyABSTRACT
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) sense pathogen-associated molecules and respond by inducing cytokines and type I interferon. Here we show that genetic ablation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Pellino3 augmented the expression of type I interferon but not of proinflammatory cytokines in response to TLR3 activation. Pellino3-deficient mice had greater resistance against the pathogenic and lethal effects of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). TLR3 signaling induced Pellino3, which in turn interacted with and ubiquitinated TRAF6. This modification suppressed the ability of TRAF6 to interact with and activate IRF7, resulting in downregulation of type I interferon expression. Our findings highlight a new physiological role for Pellino3 and define a new autoregulatory network for controlling type I interferon expression.