TRAF Family Member-associated NF-κB Activator (TANK) Is a Negative Regulator of Osteoclastogenesis and Bone Formation

The differentiation of bone-resorbing osteoclasts is induced by RANKL signaling, and leads to the activation of NF-κB via TRAF6 activation. TRAF family member-associated NF-κB activator (TANK) acts as a negative regulator of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling by inhibiting TRAF6 activation. Tank(-/-) mice spontaneously develop autoimmune glomerular nephritis in an IL-6-dependent manner. Despite its importance in the TCRs and BCR-activated TRAF6 inhibition, the involvement of TANK in RANKL signaling is poorly understood. Here, we report that TANK is a negative regulator of osteoclast differentiation. The expression levels of TANK mRNA and protein were up-regulated during RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis, and overexpression of TANK in vitro led to a decrease in osteoclast formation. The in vitro osteoclastogenesis of Tank(-/-) cells was significantly increased, accompanied by increased ubiquitination of TRAF6 and enhanced canonical NF-κB activation in response to RANKL stimulation. Tank(-/-) mice showed severe trabecular bone loss, but increased cortical bone mineral density, because of enhanced bone erosion and formation. TANK mRNA expression was induced during osteoblast differentiation and Tank(-/-) osteoblasts exhibited enhaced NF-κB activation, IL-11 expression, and bone nodule formation than wild-type control cells. Finally, wild-type mice transplanted with bone marrow cells from Tank(-/-) mice showed trabecular bone loss analogous to that in Tank(-/-) mice. These findings demonstrate that TANK is critical for osteoclastogenesis by regulating NF-κB, and is also important for proper bone remodeling.     

TACI induces cIAP1-mediated ubiquitination of NIK by TRAF2 and TANK to limit non-canonical NF-κB signaling

B-cell-activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) is a critical factor for B-cell survival and maturation through non-canonical nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway, a NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK)-dependent pathway for the processing of NF-κB2 p100 to generate p52. While BAFF acts primarily through BAFF receptor (BAFF-R), the transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI), the other receptor for BAFF, is thought to serve as a negative regulator for B-cell responses. However, how TACI regulates NF-κB2 activity is largely unknown. In this study, we showed that constitutive activation of TACI signaling suppressed BAFF-R–mediated NF-κB2 p100 processing with the up-regulation of cellular inhibitors of apoptosis 1 (cIAP1) and TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF)-associated NF-κB activator (TANK). The ubiquitination of NIK by cIAP1 was inhibited by the expression of TRAF2 with physical binding to cIAP1. TANK deficiency by small interfering RNA (siRNA) impaired TACI-dependent inhibition of NF-κB2 p100 processing. TANK also inhibited TRAF2-mediated cIAP1 inactivation. Moreover, the recruitment of TRAF2 to TACI induced the ubiquitination of NIK. Taken together, the regulation of NIK by TACI through the interaction of TANK/TRAF2/cIAP1 plays a pivotal role in the suppression of non-canonical NF-κB signaling.     

TRAF Family Member-associated NF-κB Activator (TANK) Inhibits Genotoxic Nuclear Factor κB Activation by Facilitating Deubiquitinase USP10-dependent Deubiquitination of TRAF6 Ligase

DNA damage-induced NF-κB activation plays a critical role in regulating cellular response to genotoxic stress. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling the magnitude and duration of this genotoxic NF-κB signaling cascade are poorly understood. We recently demonstrated that genotoxic NF-κB activation is regulated by reversible ubiquitination of several essential mediators involved in this signaling pathway. Here we show that TRAF family member-associated NF-κB activator (TANK) negatively regulates NF-κB activation by DNA damage via inhibiting ubiquitination of TRAF6. Despite the lack of a deubiquitination enzyme domain, TANK has been shown to negatively regulate the ubiquitination of TRAF proteins. We found TANK formed a complex with MCPIP1 (also known as ZC3H12A) and a deubiquitinase, USP10, which was essential for the USP10-dependent deubiquitination of TRAF6 and the resolution of genotoxic NF-κB activation upon DNA damage. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9-mediated deletion of TANK in human cells significantly enhanced NF-κB activation by genotoxic treatment, resulting in enhanced cell survival and increased inflammatory cytokine production. Furthermore, we found that the TANK-MCPIP1-USP10 complex also decreased TRAF6 ubiquitination in cells treated with IL-1β or LPS. In accordance, depletion of USP10 enhanced NF-κB activation induced by IL-1β or LPS. Collectively, our data demonstrate that TANK serves as an important negative regulator of NF-κB signaling cascades induced by genotoxic stress and IL-1R/Toll-like receptor stimulation in a manner dependent on MCPIP1/USP10-mediated TRAF6 deubiquitination.     

泛素化在TRAF2介导的NF-κB信号通路中的作用

NF-κB（核因子κ增强子结合蛋白）是核转录因子家族成员,具有调节免疫、炎症和细胞存活的功能.它可被TRAF2（tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 2,肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子2）等相关因子活化.TRAF2包含了N-端的环指结构域和C-端的高度保守结构域.它通过与肿瘤坏死因子受体超家族成员相互作用,介导了下游信号通路.而TRAF2的泛素化在过程中是关键的,鞘磷脂作为TRAF2的泛素化连接酶辅助因子,在TRAF2介导的NF-κB信号通路中发挥重要作用.     

JNK-binding protein 1 regulates NF-κB activation through TRAF2 and TAK1

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), are composed of a MAPK, MAPK kinase (MAPKK), and MAPKK kinase (MAPKKK). Previously, we reported that JNK-binding protein 1 (JNKBP1) enhances JNK activation induced by the TGF-β-activated kinase1 (TAK1) MAPKKK in transfected cells. We have investigated whether JNKBP1 functions as an adaptor protein for nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation mediated by TAK1 in COS-7 cells. Co-expression experiments showed that JNKBP1 interacted with not only TAK1, but also with its upstream regulators, TNF-receptor associated factors 2 and 6 (TRAF2 and TRAF6). An endogenous interaction between JNKBP1 and TRAF2 or TAK1 was confirmed by immunoprecipitation analysis. We also found that JNKBP1 could enhance the NF-κB activation induced by TAK1 and TRAF2, and could promote TRAF2 polyubiquitination. These results suggest a scaffolding role for JNKBP1 in the TRAF2-TAK1-NF-κB signaling pathway.     

TRAF6-Dependent Act1 Phosphorylation by the IκB Kinase-Related Kinases Suppresses Interleukin-17-Induced NF-κB Activation

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is critically involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory disorders. IL-17 receptor (IL-17R)-proximal signaling complex (IL-17R-Act1-TRAF6) is essential for IL-17-mediated NF-κB activation, while IL-17-mediated mRNA stability is TRAF6 independent. Recently, inducible IκB kinase (IKKi) has been shown to phosphorylate Act1 on Ser 311 to mediate IL-17-induced mRNA stability. Here we show that TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1), the other IKK-related kinase, directly phosphorylated Act1 on three other Ser sites to suppress IL-17R-mediated NF-κB activation. IL-17 stimulation activated TBK1 and induced its association with Act1. IKKi also phosphorylated Act1 on the three serine sites and played a redundant role with TBK1 in suppressing IL-17-induced NF-κB activation. Act1 phosphorylation on the three sites inhibited its association with TRAF6 and consequently NF-κB activation in IL-17R signaling. Interestingly, TRAF6, but not TRAF3, which is the upstream adaptor of the IKK-related kinases in antiviral signaling, was critical for IL-17-induced Act1 phosphorylation. TRAF6 was essential for IL-17-induced TBK1 activation, its association with Act1, and consequent Act1 phosphorylation. Our findings define a new role for the IKK-related kinases in suppressing IL-17-mediated NF-κB activation through TRAF6-dependent Act1 phosphorylation.     

TRAF6 Mediates Basal Activation of NF-κB Necessary for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Homeostasis

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Numbl inhibits glioma cell migration and invasion by suppressing TRAF5-mediated NF-κB activation

The Notch signaling regulator Numblike (Numbl) is expressed in the brain, but little is known regarding its role in the pathophysiology of glial cells. In this paper, we report that Numbl expression was down-regulated in high-grade human glioma tissue samples and glioblastoma cell lines. To investigate the role of Numbl in glioma migration and invasion, we generated human glioma cell lines in which Numbl was either overexpressed or depleted. Overexpression of Numbl suppressed, while elimination of Numbl promoted, the migration and invasion of glioma cells. Numbl inhibited glioma migration and invasion by dampening NF-κB activity. Furthermore, Numbl interacted directly with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 5 (TRAF5), which signals upstream and is required for the activation of NF-κB, and committed it to proteasomal degradation by promoting K48-linked polyubiquitination of TRAF5. In conclusion, our data suggest that Numbl negative regulates glioma cell migration and invasion by abrogating TRAF5-induced activation of NF-κB.     

TRAF6 is functional in inhibition of TLR4-mediated NF-κB activation by resveratrol

Resveratrol was suggested to inhibit Toll-like receptor (TLR)4-mediated activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing interferon-β (TRIF)–(TANK)-binding kinase 1, but the myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88–tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) pathway is not involved in this effect. However, involvement of TRAF6 in this process is still elusive since cross talk between TRIF and TRAF6 has been reported in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced signaling. Using RAW 264.7 macrophages, we determined the effect of resveratrol on LPS-induced TRAF6 expression, ubiquitination as well as activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and Akt in order to elucidate its involvement in TLR4 signaling. LPS-induced transient elevation in TRAF6 mRNA and protein expressions is suppressed by resveratrol. LPS induces the ubiquitination of TRAF6, which has been reported to be essential for Akt activation and for transforming growth factor-β activated kinase-1–NAP kinase kinase 6 (MKK6)-mediated p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation. We found that resveratrol diminishes the effect of LPS on TRAF6 ubiquitination and activation of JNK and p38 MAP kinases, while it has no effect on the activation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2. The effect of resveratrol on MAP kinase inhibition is significant since TRAF6 activation was reported to induce activation of JNK and p38 MAP kinase while not affecting ERK1/2. Moreover, Akt was identified previously as a direct target of TRAF6, and we found that, similarly to MAPKs, phosphorylation pattern of Akt followed the activation of TRAF6, and it was inhibited by resveratrol at all time points. Here, we provide the first evidence that resveratrol, by suppressing LPS-induced TRAF6 expression and ubiquitination, attenuates the LPS-induced TLR4–TRAF6, MAP kinase and Akt pathways that can be significant in its anti-inflammatory effects.     

Non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathway

The non-canonical NF-κB pathway is an important arm of NF-κB signaling that predominantly targets activation of the p52/RelB NF-κB complex. This pathway depends on the inducible processing of p100, a molecule functioning as both the precursor of p52 and a RelB-specific inhibitor. A central signaling component of the non-canonical pathway is NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK), which integrates signals from a subset of TNF receptor family members and activates a downstream kinase, IκB kinase-α (IKKα), for triggering p100 phosphorylation and processing. A unique mechanism of NIK regulation is through its fate control: the basal level of NIK is kept low by a TRAF-cIAP destruction complex and signal-induced non-canonical NF-κB signaling involves NIK stabilization. Tight control of the fate of NIK is important, since deregulated NIK accumulation is associated with lymphoid malignancies.     

NF-κB的生物学功能

NF—κB因其广泛参与机体的免疫及其它应激反应而受到人们的关注,其常见的形式是由p50和p65组成的异源二聚体。细胞受到外部因素刺激后,NF-κB由细胞质转移到细胞核中,并发生磷酸化和乙酰化,启动相关基因的表达。目前研究表明受NF-κB调节的基因有200多种,其激活因子不少于150种,所以对NF-κB在各种条件下的激活过程及信号传导网络的研究具有重要的意义。本文综合了当前关于NF—κB研究的最新进展,着重阐述了由TNF-α、IL-Ⅰ及LPS刺激而引起NF—κB激活的信号传导通路,并进一步阐述了其在人类某些疾病当中的生物学功能。     

TRAF6 与NF-κB 在特发性炎症性肌病小鼠肌肉中的表达及意义

目的:研究肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子6(TRAF6)与核转录因子κB(NF-κB)在特发性炎症性肌病(IIMs)中的表达情况,探讨TRAF6在IIMs发病中的作用及机制。方法:30只雌性BALB/c小鼠随机分为5组(每组6只),A:正常对照组;B~E:IIMs模型自第一次免疫后分别在1周、2周、3周、4周末处理组;采用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测各组小鼠肌肉组织中TRAF6与NF-κB m RNA表达水平。结果:(1)IIMs各组小鼠肌肉中TRAF6与NF-κB m RNA与正常对照组相比表达均有不同程度升高(P0.01),第2周末时升高最为显著(P0.01),第3周、4周呈下降趋势(P0.01);(2)IIMs小鼠各组肌肉组织中TRAF6与NF-κB m RNA表达水平与肌肉炎症程度呈正相关(r=0.940,r=0.908,P0.01),前二者之间也呈显著正相关(r=0.944,P0.01)。结论:TRAF6、NF-κB m RNA表达在IIMs小鼠肌肉中上调,TRAF6可能通过NF-κB的激活在IIMs发生发展过程中发挥重要作用。     

Opposing roles for TRAF1 in the alternative versus classical NF-κB pathway in T cells

T cells lacking TRAF1 hyperproliferate in response to T cell receptor signaling but have impaired signaling downstream of specific TNFR family members such as 4-1BB. Here we resolve this paradox by showing that while TRAF1 is required for maximal activation of the classical NF-κB pathway downstream of 4-1BB in primary T cells, TRAF1 also restricts the constitutive activation of NIK in anti-CD3-activated T cells. Activation of the alternative NF-κB pathway is restricted in unstimulated cells by a cIAP1/2:TRAF2:TRAF3:NIK complex. Using knockdown of NIK by siRNA we show that in activated CD8 T cells TRAF1 is also involved in this process and that constitutive activation of the alternative NF-κB pathway is responsible for costimulation independent hyperproliferation and excess cytokine production in TRAF1-deficient CD8 T cells compared with WT CD8 T cells. The T cell costimulatory molecule 4-1BB critically regulates the survival of activated and memory CD8 T cells. We demonstrate that stimulation through 4-1BB induces cIAP1-dependent TRAF3 degradation and activation of the alternative NF-κB pathway. We also show that while both TRAF1 and cIAP1 have non-redundant roles in suppressing the alternative NF-κB pathway in T cells activated in the absence of costimulation, activation of the classical NF-κB pathway downstream of 4-1BB requires TRAF1, whereas cIAP1 plays a redundant role with cIAP2. Collectively these results demonstrate that TRAF1 plays a critical role in regulating T cell activation both through restricting the costimulation independent activation of NIK in activated T cells and by promoting the 4-1BB-induced classical NF-κB pathway.     

TRIM22 inhibits the TRAF6-stimulated NF-κB pathway by targeting TAB2 for degradation

Tripartite motif containing 22 (TRIM22), a member of the TRIM/RBCC family, has been reported to activate the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway in unstimulated macrophage cell lines, but the detailed mechanisms governing this activation remains unclear. We investigated this mechanism in HEK293T cells. We found that overexpression of TRIM22 could activate the NF-κB pathway and conversely, could inhibit the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6)-stimulated NF-κB pathway in HEK293T cells. Further experiments showed that TRIM22 could decrease the self-ubiquitination of TRAF6, and interact with and degrade transforming growth factor-β activated kinase 1 binding protein 2 (TAB2), and that these effects could be partially rescued by a TRIM22 RING domain deletion mutant. Collectively, our data indicate that overexpression of TRIM22 may negatively regulate the TRAF6-stimulated NF-κB pathway by interacting with and degrading TAB2.