尼罗罗非鱼traf6基因表达谱及信号转导

肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子6(TRAF6)是一种重要的接头蛋白,在Toll样受体/白细胞介素-1受体(TLR/IL-1R)超家族所触发的信号通路中起重要作用,与先天性免疫密切相关。文章研究了尼罗罗非鱼(Oreochromis niloticus)traf6的表达模式和初步的功能。在健康鱼中,traf6转录本广泛表达于所有受检组织中,在血液中表达水平最高,在肝脏中最低。在不同的胚胎发育阶段也检测到traf6的表达。在无乳链球菌体内感染后,大多数受检组织中traf6 mRNA的表达量上调。此外,LPS、Poly I:C和S.agalactiae可显著诱导尼罗罗非鱼巨噬细胞traf6的表达。此外,在HEK293T细胞中过表达表明,TRAF6分布于细胞质中,可显著提高NF-κB的活性。免疫共沉淀(Co-IP)实验表明,TRAF6可与IRAK1(白细胞介素-1受体相关激酶1)相互作用,IRAK1在TLR/IL-1R信号通路中也起重要作用。在体内,TLR2、TLR21和TLR13b的过表达可上调traf6 mRNA的表达水平,表明TRAF6参与了TLR2、TLR21和TLR13b介导的信号转导,提示TRAF6在病原体入侵的免疫应答中起重要作用。     

斑马鱼myd88和traf6真核表达载体的构建

髓样分化因子88(myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88,MYD88)和 TNF 受体相关因子6(TNF receptor associated factor 6,TRAF6)均属于 Toll 样受体(Toll-like receptors,TLR)家族成员中的关键衔接分子.斑马鱼是研究先天免疫应答的独特模式生物,为了构建myD88和traf6的真核表达载体,用于免疫应答机制的研究,克隆了斑马鱼myd88和traf6基因的编码区CDS全长序列,分别是855 bp和1 629 bp.结构分析表明,斑马鱼MYD88存在2个保守结构域为死亡结构域和TIR结构域,TRAF6存在4个保守结构域分别为RING结构域、2个锌指结构域、环-环(coiled-coil)结构域以及TRAF同源结构域(meprinand TR-AF-homology,MATH),并与其他物种氨基酸序列一致性较高.系统进化树分析发现斑马鱼myd88和traf6基因与硬骨鱼类亲缘关系较近,说明斑马鱼myd88和traf6基因的同源性符合其在物种进化上的地位并且具有很高的结构同源性.将斑马鱼myd88和traf6基因的CDS全长序列连接至pCMV-Tag2B表达载体.通过对重组质粒进行双酶切检测发现,成功克隆了斑马鱼pCMV-myd88和pCMV-traf6真核表达载体.为了验证这2个真核表达载体的生物学功能,本研究在HEK293T细胞中进行NF-κB的报告基因活性检测.结果表明,过表达myd88和traf6基因后,斑马鱼NF-κB家族nfκbl启动子的转录活性显著升高,分别约为空载对照组的2.5倍和8倍.鉴于MYD88和TRAF6在天然免疫功能等方面的重要作用,实验结果为以后研究斑马鱼的先天免疫信号传导过程提供了有力的研究工具.     

新的红细胞分化相关因子反义RNA特异抑制K562细胞中的GATA-1转录因子活性

以往报道了通过基因转染技术观察新的红细胞分化相关因子(EDRF1)反义RNA表达和EDRF1过表达对细胞增殖和分化的影响,结果表明,反义EDRF1表达载体转染后的K562细胞α-globin,γ-globin mRNA表达水平下降.本文利用基因芯片和真核基因转染技术观察了EDRF1对60种细胞因子及其受体表达水平的影响,发现EDRF1明显调节IL-6受体,GM-CSF受体,c-Jun/c-Fos,c-myc及c-kit(SCF受体)等基因的表达水平,并通过RNA点杂交进行验证,EDRF1对几个重要的细胞因子受体表达的调节可能是其执行功能的一个重要途径.Northern blot实验结果表明,GATA-1 mRNA在转染EDRF1反义表达载体后表达水平有所下调,随后的凝胶阻滞电泳实验(gel shift assay,EMSA)证明,与对照相比,EDRF1反义表达载体转染的K562细胞中,红系特异的转录因子GATA-1的活性受到明显的抑制,而另一个红系特异的转录因子NF-E2则没有明显的活性改变,对照NF-κB的转录活性也基本保持恒定.因此推测,K562细胞增殖和分化的调节很可能是通过直接影响红系特异的转录因子GATA-1与顺式序列相互作用的转录活性来实现的.     

LINGO-1:新发现的脑内神经再生抑制因子

在成年动物和人中枢神经系统 ,髓鞘内的神经再生抑制因子 (MAG、OMgp、Nogo等 )通过与神经元上的特异性受体复合体相互作用 ,启动对神经轴突再生的抑制 ;“Nogo 6 6受体”(Nogo 6 6receptor,即Nogoreceptor 1,NgR1)和“p75神经生长因子受体”是组成此受体复合体的两个关键亚单位 ;被Nogo等激活的受体复合体能活化“胞内骨架调节因子”———RhoA ,RhoA最终实现对轴突延长的抑制。美国学者最近发现 ,在转染后成功表达NgR1和p75的非神经细胞 (COS 7细胞 ) ,神经再生抑制因子OMgp不能激活NgR1和p75复合体、亦不能活化RhoA ,暗示神经…     

PELP1/MNAR:一种新的核受体辅助调节因子

脯氨酸-谷氨酸-亮氨酸富集蛋白1/雌激素受体非基因组活性辅助调节因子(proline-,glutamic acid-,leucine-rich protein 1/modulator of nongenomic activity of estrogen receptor,PELP1/MNAR)是一种新近发现的核受体辅助活化因子,具有较为复杂的分子结构,在多种组织中广泛表达。与先前发现的核受体辅助调节因子不同的是:作为一种支架蛋白,PELP1/MNAR既参与核受体调控靶基因转录的基因组作用,又参与了核受体激活激酶信号系统的非基因组作用,并且可能在核受体信号与生长因子信号串话(cross talk)中发挥重要作用。近年的研究表明,PELP1/MNAR在乳腺癌、卵巢癌、子宫内膜癌、前列腺癌等激素依赖性肿瘤中均有异常表达和分布,在激素依赖性肿瘤的发生、发展、转移、耐药形成过程中可能具有重要意义,可望成为内分泌依赖性肿瘤治疗的一个新的靶点。     

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。     

破骨细胞形成抑制因子研究进展

破骨细胞形成抑制因子（OPG/OCIF）是最近发现的一种参与调节骨密度的糖蛋白,是一个肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)受体超家族的新成员,其氨基酸序列中具有TNF受体结构类似区.成熟的OPG/OCIF具有7个结构域,可分为三个功能区,即：TNF受体结构区、致死结构区和肝素结合区.OPG/OCIF基因定位在8q23～24上,由5个外显子和4个内含子组成,其表达受到与骨的形成和破坏有关因子的调控：如TGF-β1、1,25(OH)₂VD₃、TNF-α等等.OPG/OCIF抑制骨的破坏和吸收机制主要是抑制破骨细胞的存活,引起破骨细胞凋亡和抑制破骨细胞形成.     

fbxo32基因在traf6缺失斑马鱼肝脏中的表达分析

为了进一步研究fbxo32在肝脏相关疾病中的作用, 进行了traf6缺失斑马鱼Danio rerio肝脏的组织切片分析, 结果显示斑马鱼traf6缺失个体表现出明显的肝萎缩特征, 包括肝脏组织结构松散、肝细胞排列不规则及缺少肝脂肪滴等症状。同时荧光定量实验表明fbxo32 mRNA在检测过的野生型斑马鱼组织中均有一定量的表达, 在肝脏中表达量较低而在卵巢中表达量较高。而与野生型斑马鱼相比, fbxo32 mRNA在traf6突变体斑马鱼肝脏中的表达量上调超过100倍。进一步原位杂交结果显示, fbxo32 mRNA的信号主要集中于肝脏细胞, 而在血细胞中则没有检测到信号。特别是与野生型斑马鱼相比, fbxo32 mRNA在traf6突变型斑马鱼肝脏中的信号明显增强。实验结果表明traf6缺失能引起fbxo32基因的上调表达, 并会导致traf6突变型斑马鱼肝脏发育异常并发生萎缩。     

白化菠萝蜜茎2个蛋白激酶和4个转录因子家族分析

为探究蛋白激酶(PKs)和转录因子(TFs)在白化菠萝蜜(Artocarpus heterophyllus)幼苗茎次生生长中的表达变化,基于转录组数据对其差异表达基因(DEGs)进行预测及分类,并对挑选出的2个PKs和4个TFs家族构建系统进化树。结果表明,胞质类受体激酶(RLCK)-VIII家族的DEGs上下调表达各4个,亮氨酸富集重复类受体激酶(LRR-RLK)-X家族Xa和Xb-2分支中的DEGs均下调表达,Xb-1中的均上调,TCP家族的20个DEGs中有15个上调表达,zf-HD和GRF家族中的大多数DEGs上调表达,Alfin-like家族中的DEGs均下调表达。因此,这表明6个家族可能在菠萝蜜茎的次生生长过程和应对非生物胁迫中发挥重要作用。     

肿瘤坏死因子受体超家族成员TROY的研究进展

TROY(TNFRSF expressed on the mouse embryo)是近年新发现的表达于小鼠胚胎的肿瘤坏死因子受体超家族成员.TROY在体内分布广泛,尤其高表达于胚胎和成熟的中枢神经系统.研究表明,TROY能与髓鞘抑制因子Nogo NgR1及脑内神经再生抑制因子(LINGO-1)形成功能受体复合物,参与中枢神经系统轴突生长抑制因子的信号转导;TROY还能诱导细胞副凋亡,促进某些细胞的增殖分化.本文就TROY在上述相关领域的研究进展作一综述.     

Glutaredoxin-1 regulates TRAF6 activation and the IL-1 receptor/TLR4 signalling

Glutaredoxin-1 (GRX-1) is a cytoplasmic enzyme that highly contributes to the antioxidant defense system. It catalyzes the reversible reduction of glutathione-protein mixed disulfides, a process called deglutathionylation. Here, we investigated the role of GRX-1 in the pathway triggered by interleukin-1/Toll-like receptor 4 (IL-1R/TLR4) by using RNA interference (RNAi) in HEK293 and HeLa cells. TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is an intermediate signalling molecule involved in the signal transduction by members of the interleukin-1/Toll-like receptor (IL-1R/TLR) family. TRAF6 has an E3 ubiquitin ligase activity which depends on the integrity of an amino-terminal really interesting new gene (RING) finger motif. Upon receptor activation, TRAF6 undergoes K63-linked auto-polyubiquitination which mediates protein-protein interactions and signal propagation. Our data showed that IL-1R and TLR4-mediated NF-κB induction was severely reduced in GRX-1 knockdown cells. We found that the RING-finger motif of TRAF6 is S-glutathionylated under normal conditions. Moreover, upon IL-1 stimulation TRAF6 undergoes deglutathionylation catalyzed by GRX-1. The deglutathionylation of TRAF6 is essential for its auto-polyubiquitination and subsequent activation. Taken together, our findings reveal another signalling molecule affected by S-glutathionylation and uncover a crucial role for GRX-1 in the TRAF6-dependent activation of NF-κB by IL-1R/TLRs.     

TRAF6 regulates proliferation and differentiation of skeletal myoblasts

We could recently demonstrate an important role of receptor interacting protein-2 (RIP2), an activator of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and a target of activated receptors of the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) type, in myogenic differentiation and regeneration. Here, we analyze a potential role of TNFR associated factor 6 (TRAF6), which also associates with the cytoplasmic domain of TNFR type, but also IL-1-R and TLR type receptors, and activates NF-κB, in these processes. Specifically, we show that during myogenic differentiation in vitro, traf6 gene expression is downregulated in normal myoblasts, but not in rhabdomyosarcoma cells, suggesting a role of the TRAF6 protein in this process. Inhibition of traf6 expression using specific siRNAs led to an inhibition of both myoblast proliferation and differentiation, whereas inhibition of the TRAF6 effector NF-κB alone in our system only blocked proliferation. Finally, we demonstrate that the traf6 gene is downregulated in skeletal muscle tissue of the dystrophic mdx mouse. Taken together, these data argue for a role of TRAF6 in the regulation of skeletal muscle differentiation and regeneration.     

Syntenin negatively regulates TRAF6-mediated IL-1R/TLR4 signaling

Toll-like receptors are involved in host defense against invading pathogens. The two members of this superfamily, IL-1R and TLR4, activate overlapping NF-kappaB activate signaling pathway mediated by TRAF6. In this study, we identified syntenin as a negative regulator of IL-1R and TLR4 mediated NF-kappaB activation. Overexpressed syntenin inhibited IL-1- or LPS-, but not TNF- induced NF-kappaB activation and IL-8 mRNA expression in a dose dependent manner. Syntenin specifically interacted with TRAF6 in human 293 cells, and inhibited TRAF6 induced NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation. Syntenin also associated with TRAF6 under physiological condition, and dissociated from TRAF6 upon IL-1 stimulation. This might be due to a competition between syntenin and IRAK1, as overexpression of IRAK1 disrupted the interaction of syntenin with TRAF6, and rescued syntenin induced reduction of TRAF6 ubiquitination. Moreover, knockdown of syntenin potentiated IL-1- or LPS- triggered NF-kappaB activation and IL-8 mRNA expression. These findings suggest that syntenin is a physiological suppressor of TRAF6 and plays an inhibitory role in IL-1R- and TLR4- mediated NF-kappaB activation pathways.     

TRAF6, a molecular bridge spanning adaptive immunity, innate immunity and osteoimmunology

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is a crucial signaling molecule regulating a diverse array of physiological processes, including adaptive immunity, innate immunity, bone metabolism and the development of several tissues including lymph nodes, mammary glands, skin and the central nervous system. It is a member of a group of six closely related TRAF proteins, which serve as adapter molecules, coupling the TNF receptor (TNFR) superfamily to intracellular signaling events. Among the TRAF proteins, TRAF6 is unique in that, in addition to mediating TNFR family signaling, it is also essential for signaling downstream of an unrelated family of receptors, the interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor/Toll-like receptor (IL-1R/TLR) superfamily. Gene targeting experiments have identified several indispensable physiological functions of TRAF6, and structural and biochemical studies have revealed the potential mechanisms of its action. By virtue of its many signaling roles, TRAF6 represents an important target in the regulation of many disease processes, including immunity, inflammation and osteoporosis.     

Pellino proteins are more than scaffold proteins in TLR/IL-1R signalling: a role as novel RING E3-ubiquitin-ligases

Members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) and IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) family initiate signalling pathways that shape innate immunity. Pellino proteins have recently been implicated as evolutionary conserved scaffold proteins in TLR/IL-1R signalling leading to nuclear factor-kappaB and mitogen activated protein kinase-dependent gene expression. We found that Pellino proteins contain a new RING-like motif. Because RING motifs are a feature of a subclass of E3-ubiquitin-ligases that target specific proteins for ubiquitination, we suggest that Pellino proteins are involved in TLR/IL-1R signalling not only as scaffold proteins but also as RING E3-ubiquitin-ligases. In support of this hypothesis we show that Pellino proteins induce IRAK-1 polyubiquitination in a RING-dependent manner. We further propose a model in which Pellino-mediated IRAK-1 polyubiquitination regulates TLR/IL-1R signalling.     

miR-146a Ameliorates Liver Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Suppressing IRAK1 and TRAF6

A critical role of the Toll-like receptor(TLR) and its downstream molecules, including IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1(IRAK1) and tumor necrosis factor receptor– associated factor 6(TRAF6), in the pathogenesis of liver ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury has been documented. Recently a microRNA, miR-146a, was identified as a potent negative regulator of the TLR signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-146a to attenuate TLR signaling and liver I/R injury in vivo and in vitro. miR-146a was decreased in mice Kupffer cells following hepatic I/R, whereas IRAK1 and TRAF6 increased. Overexpression of miR-146a directly decreased IRAK1 and TRAF6 expression and attenuated the release of proinflammatory cytokines through the inactivation of NF-κB P65 in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced macrophages, RAW264.7 cells. Knockdown experiments demonstrated that IRAK1 and TRAF6 are two potential targets for reducing the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, co-culture assays indicated that miR-146a decreases the apoptosis of hepatocytes after H/R. In vivo administration of Ago-miR-146a, a stable version of miR-146a in vivo, protected against liver injury in mice after I/R via inactivation of the TLR signaling pathway. We conclude that miR-146a ameliorates liver ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo and hypoxia/reoxygenation injury in vitro by directly suppressing IRAK1 and TRAF6.     

IRF-8/interferon (IFN) consensus sequence-binding protein is involved in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling and contributes to the cross-talk between TLR and IFN-gamma signaling pathways

Toll-like receptor (TLR) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) signaling pathways are important for both innate and adaptive immune responses. However, the cross-talk between these two signaling pathways is incompletely understood. Here we show that IFN-gamma and LPS synergistically induce the expression of proinflammatory factors, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-12, NO, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Comparable synergism was observed between IFN-gamma and peptidoglycan (PGN; a TLR2 ligand) and poly(I:C) (a TLR3 ligand) in the induction of IL-12 promoter activity. IFN-gamma enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ERK and JNK phosphorylation but had no effect on LPS-induced NF-kappaB activation. Interestingly, we found that IRF-8-/- macrophages were impaired in the activation of LPS-induced ERK and JNK and the production of proinflammatory cytokines induced by LPS or IFN-gamma plus LPS. Retroviral transduction of IRF-8 into IRF-8-/- macrophages rescued ERK and JNK activation. Furthermore, co-immunoprecipitation experiments show that IRF-8 physically interacts with TRAF6 at a binding site between amino acid residues 356 and 305 of IRF-8. Transfection of IRF-8 enhanced TRAF6 ubiquitination, which is consistent with a physical interaction of IRF-8 with TRAF6. Taken together, the results suggest that the interaction of IRF-8 with TRAF6 modulates TLR signaling and may contribute to the cross-talk between IFN-gamma and TLR signal pathways.