TNF transactivation of EGFR stimulates cytoprotective COX-2 expression in gastrointestinal epithelial cells

TNF and epidermal growth factor (EGF) are well-known stimuli of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression, and TNF stimulates transactivation of EGF receptor (EGFR) signaling to promote survival in colon epithelial cells. We hypothesized that COX-2 induction and cell survival signaling downstream of TNF are mediated by EGFR transactivation. TNF treatment was more cytotoxic to COX-2(-/-) mouse colon epithelial (MCE) cells than wild-type (WT) young adult mouse colon (YAMC) epithelial cells or COX-1(-/-) cells. TNF also induced COX-2 protein and mRNA expression in YAMC cells, but blockade of EGFR kinase activity or expression inhibited COX-2 upregulation. TNF-induced COX-2 expression was reduced and absent in EGFR(-/-) and TNF receptor-1 (TNFR1) knockout MCE cells, respectively, but was restored upon expression of the WT receptors. Inhibition of mediators of EGFR transactivation, Src family kinases and p38 MAPK, blocked TNF-induced COX-2 protein and mRNA expression. Finally, TNF injection increased COX-2 expression in colon epithelium of WT, but not kinase-defective EGFR(wa2) and EGFR(wa5), mice. These data indicate that TNFR1-dependent transactivation of EGFR through a p38- and/or an Src-dependent mechanism stimulates COX-2 expression to promote cell survival. This highlights an EGFR-dependent cell signaling pathway and response that may be significant in colitis-associated carcinoma.     

Double-stranded RNA induces shedding of the 34-kDa soluble TNFR1 from human airway epithelial cells via TLR3-TRIF-RIP1-dependent signaling: roles for dual oxidase 2- and caspase-dependent pathways

TNF, an important mediator of inflammatory and innate immune responses, can be regulated by binding to soluble TNF receptors. The 55-kDa type 1 TNFR (TNFR1), the key receptor for TNF signaling, is released to the extracellular space by two mechanisms, the inducible cleavage and shedding of 34-kDa soluble TNFR1 (sTNFR1) ectodomains and the constitutive release of full-length 55-kDa TNFR1 within exosome-like vesicles. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize TLR signaling pathways that mediate TNFR1 release to the extracellular space. To our knowledge, we demonstrate for the first time that polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly (I:C)], a synthetic dsRNA analogue that signals via TLR3, induces sTNFR1 shedding from human airway epithelial (NCI-H292) cells, whereas ligands for other microbial pattern recognition receptors, including TLR4, TLR7, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain containing 2, do not. Furthermore, poly (I:C) selectively induces the cleavage of 34-kDa sTNFR1 ectodomains but does not enhance the release of full-length 55-kDa TNFR1 within exosome-like vesicles. RNA interference experiments demonstrated that poly (I:C)-induced sTNFR1 shedding is mediated via activation of TLR3-TRIF-RIP1 signaling, with subsequent activation of two downstream pathways. One pathway involves the dual oxidase 2-mediated generation of reactive oxygen species, and the other pathway is via the caspase-mediated activation of apoptosis. Thus, the ability of dsRNA to induce the cleavage and shedding of the 34-kDa sTNFR1 from human bronchial epithelial cells represents a novel mechanism by which innate immune responses to viral infections are modulated.     

Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 functions as a tumor suppressor

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a key player in inflammatory bowel disease and has been variably associated with carcinogenesis, but details of the cross talk between inflammatory and tumorigenic pathways remain incompletely understood. It has been shown that, in C57BL/6 mice, signaling via TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) is protective from injury and inflammation in experimental colitis. Therefore, we hypothesized that loss of TNFR1 signaling would confer increased risk of developing colitis-associated carcinoma. Using three models of murine tumorigenesis based on repeated bouts of inflammation or systemic tumor initiator, we sought to determine the roles of TNF and TNFR1 with regard to neoplastic transformation in the colon in wild-type (WT), TNFR1 knockout (R1KO), and TNF knockout (TNFKO) mice. We found R1KO animals to have more severe disease, as defined by weight loss, hematochezia, and histology. TNFKO mice demonstrated less weight loss but were consistently smaller, and rates and duration of hematochezia were comparable to WT mice. Histological inflammation scores were higher and neoplastic lesions occurred more frequently and earlier in R1KO mice. Apoptosis is not affected in R1KO mice although epithelial proliferation following injury is more ardent even before tumorigenesis is apparent. Lastly, there is earlier and more intense expression of activated β-catenin in these mice, implying a connection between TNFR1 and Wnt signaling. Taken together, these findings show that in the context of colitis-associated carcinogenesis TNFR1 functions as a tumor suppressor, exerting this effect not via apoptosis but by modulating activation of β-catenin and controlling epithelial proliferation.     

PI3-K/AKT regulation of NF-kappaB signaling events in suppression of TNF-induced apoptosis

We found that in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells, PI3K and Akt suppressed a dose-dependent induction of apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF). PI3K and Akt stimulated NF-kappaB activation in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a common link between these two pathways. TNF has been shown to activate both an apoptotic cascade, as well as a cell survival signal through NF-kappaB. PI3K and AKT cell survival signaling were correlated with increased TNF-stimulated NF-kappaB activity in MCF-7 cells. We demonstrate that while both TNFR1 and NIK are partially involved in Akt-induced NF-kappaB stimulation, a dominant negative IkappaBalpha completely blocked Akt-NF-kappaB cross-talk. PI3K-Akt signaling activated NF-kappaB through both TNFR signaling-dependent and -independent mechanisms, potentially representing a mechanism by which Akt functions to suppress apoptosis in cancer.     

Epidermal growth factor/TNF-α transactivation modulates epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis in a mouse model of parenteral nutrition

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) signaling are critical for effective proliferative and apoptotic actions; however, little is known about the codependency of these signaling pathways in the intestinal epithelium. Because total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is associated with loss of intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) proliferation and increased apoptosis, we utilized a mouse model to explore these transactivation pathways in small bowel epithelium. Mice underwent intravenous cannulation and were given enteral nutrition or TPN for 7 days. Outcomes included IEC proliferation, apoptosis, and survival. To address transactivation or dependence of EGF and TNF on IEC physiology, TNF-α receptor knockout (KO) mice, TNFR1-KO, R2-KO, or R1R2-double KO, were used. Exogenous EGF and pharmacological blockade of ErbB1 were performed in other groups to examine the relevance of the ErB1 pathway. TPN increased IEC TNFR1 and decreased EGF and ErbB1 abundance. Loss of IEC proliferation was prevented by exogenous EGF or blockade of TNFR1. However, EGF action was prevented without effective TNFR2 signaling. Also, blockade of TNFR1 could not prevent loss of IEC proliferation without effective ErbB1 signaling. TPN increased IEC apoptosis and was due to increased TNFR1 signaling. Exogenous EGF or blockade of TNFR1 could prevent increased apoptosis, and both pathways were dependent on effective ErbB1 signaling. Exogenous EGF prevented increased apoptosis in mice lacking TNFR2 signaling. TPN mice had significantly decreased survival vs. controls, and this was associated with the TNFR1 signaling pathway. We concluded that these findings identify critical mechanisms that contribute to TPN-associated mucosal atrophy via altered TNF-α/EGF signaling. It emphasizes the importance of both TNFR1 and TNFR2 pathways, as well as the strong interdependence on an intact EGF/ErbB1 pathway.     

Proteinase-activated Receptor 2 (PAR2) Decreases Apoptosis in Colonic Epithelial Cells

Mucosal biopsies from inflamed colon of inflammatory bowel disease patients exhibit elevated epithelial apoptosis compared with those from healthy individuals, disrupting mucosal homeostasis and perpetuating disease. Therapies that decrease intestinal epithelial apoptosis may, therefore, ameliorate inflammatory bowel disease, but treatments that specifically target apoptotic pathways are lacking. Proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR2), a G protein-coupled receptor activated by trypsin-like serine proteinases, is expressed on intestinal epithelial cells and stimulates mitogenic pathways upon activation. We sought to determine whether PAR2 activation and signaling could rescue colonic epithelial (HT-29) cells from apoptosis induced by proapoptotic cytokines that are increased during inflammatory bowel disease. The PAR2 agonists 2-furoyl-LIGRLO (2f-LI), SLIGKV and trypsin all significantly reduced cleavage of caspase-3, -8, and -9, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, and the externalization of phosphatidylserine after treatment of cells with IFN-γ and TNF-α. Knockdown of PAR2 with siRNA eliminated the anti-apoptotic effect of 2f-LI and increased the sensitivity of HT-29 cells to cytokine-induced apoptosis. Concurrent inhibition of both MEK1/2 and PI3K was necessary to inhibit PAR2-induced survival. 2f-LI was found to increase phosphorylation and inactivation of pro-apoptotic BAD at Ser¹¹² and Ser¹³⁶ by MEK1/2 and PI3K-dependent signaling, respectively. PAR2 activation also increased the expression of anti-apoptotic MCL-1. Simultaneous knockdown of both BAD and MCL-1 had minimal effects on PAR2-induced survival, whereas single knockdown had no effect. We conclude that PAR2 activation reduces cytokine-induced epithelial apoptosis via concurrent stimulation of MEK1/2 and PI3K but little involvement of MCL-1 and BAD. Our findings represent a novel mechanism whereby serine proteinases facilitate epithelial cell survival and may be important in the context of colonic healing.     

Tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) signaling is negatively regulated by a novel, carboxyl-terminal TNFR-associated factor 2 (TRAF2)-binding site

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily receptors typically induce both NF-kappaB and JNK activation by recruiting the TRAF2 signal transduction protein to their cytoplasmic domain. The type 2 TNF receptor (TNFR2), however, is a poor activator of these signaling pathways despite its high TRAF2 binding capability. This apparent paradox is resolved here by the demonstration that TNFR2 carries a novel carboxyl-terminal TRAF2-binding site (T2bs-C) that prevents the delivery of activation signals from its conventional TRAF2-binding site (T2bs-N). T2bs-C does not conform to canonical TRAF2 binding motifs and appears to bind TRAF2 indirectly via an as yet unidentified intermediary. Specific inactivation of T2bs-N by site-directed mutagenesis eliminated most of the TRAF2 recruited to the TNFR2 cytoplasmic domain but had no effect on ligand-dependent activation of the NF-kappaB or JNK pathways. By contrast, inactivation of T2bs-C had little effect on the amount of TRAF2 recruited but greatly enhanced ligand-dependent NF-kappaB and JNK activation. In wild-type TNFR2 therefore, T2bs-C acts in a dominant fashion to attenuate signaling by the intrinsically more active T2bs-N but not by preventing TRAF2 recruitment. This unique uncoupling of TRAF2 recruitment and signaling at T2bs-N may be important in the modulation by TNFR2 of signaling through coexpressed TNFR1.     

Glucocorticoid-induced TNF receptor functions as a costimulatory receptor that promotes survival in early phases of T cell activation

Glucocorticoid-induced TNFR (GITR) is a member of the TNFR family that can inhibit the suppressive function of regulatory T cells and promote the survival and activation of T cells. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating T cell survival and activation downstream of GITR. To gain further insight into the cellular events and signaling pathways triggered by GITR, survival, proliferation, and cytokine production as well as activation of MAPKs and NF-kappaB were monitored after cross-linking of the receptor on naive and activated T cells. GITR cross-linking provided costimulation of naive and activated T cells and resulted in activation of MAPKs and NF-kappaB. Although GITR-induced signaling pathways augmented the survival of naive T cells, they were not sufficient to inhibit activation-induced cell death triggered by CD3 cross-linking of activated T cells. Differences in the contributions of GITR to cell survival between naive and activated T cells suggest that the receptor triggers specific pathways depending on the activation state of the T cell.     

A TNF receptor 2 selective agonist rescues human neurons from oxidative stress-induced cell death

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) plays a dual role in neurodegenerative diseases. Whereas TNF receptor (TNFR) 1 is predominantly associated with neurodegeneration, TNFR2 is involved in tissue regeneration and neuroprotection. Accordingly, the availability of TNFR2-selective agonists could allow the development of new therapeutic treatments of neurodegenerative diseases. We constructed a soluble, human TNFR2 agonist (TNC-scTNF(R2)) by genetic fusion of the trimerization domain of tenascin C to a TNFR2-selective single-chain TNF molecule, which is comprised of three TNF domains connected by short peptide linkers. TNC-scTNF(R2) specifically activated TNFR2 and possessed membrane-TNF mimetic activity, resulting in TNFR2 signaling complex formation and activation of downstream signaling pathways. Protection from neurodegeneration was assessed using the human dopaminergic neuronal cell line LUHMES. First we show that TNC-scTNF(R2) interfered with cell death pathways subsequent to H(2)O(2) exposure. Protection from cell death was dependent on TNFR2 activation of the PI3K-PKB/Akt pathway, evident from restoration of H(2)O(2) sensitivity in the presence of PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Second, in an in vitro model of Parkinson disease, TNC-scTNF(R2) rescues neurons after induction of cell death by 6-OHDA. Since TNFR2 is not only promoting anti-apoptotic responses but also plays an important role in tissue regeneration, activation of TNFR2 signaling by TNC-scTNF(R2) appears a promising strategy to ameliorate neurodegenerative processes.     

Polyubiquitinated Tristetraprolin Protects from TNF-induced,Caspase-mediated Apoptosis

Binding of TNF to its receptor (TNFR1) elicits the spatiotemporal assembly of two signaling complexes that coordinate the balance between cell survival and cell death. We have shown previously that, following TNF treatment, the mRNA decay protein tristetraprolin (TTP) is Lys-63-polyubiquitinated by TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), suggesting a regulatory role in TNFR signaling. Here we demonstrate that TTP interacts with TNFR1 in a TRAF2-dependent manner, thereby initiating the MEKK1/MKK4-dependent activation of JNK activities. This regulatory function toward JNK activation but not NF-κB activation depends on lysine 105 of TTP, which we identified as the corresponding TRAF2 ubiquitination site. Disabling TTP polyubiquitination results in enhanced TNF-induced apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. Together, we uncover a novel aspect of TNFR1 signaling where TTP, in alliance with TRAF2, acts as a balancer of JNK-mediated cell survival versus death.     

Competitive control of independent programs of tumor necrosis factor receptor-induced cell death by TRADD and RIP1

Stimulation of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) can initiate several cellular responses, including apoptosis, which relies on caspases, necrotic cell death, which depends on receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1), and NF-kappaB activation, which induces survival and inflammatory responses. The TNFR-associated death domain (TRADD) protein has been suggested to be a crucial signal adaptor that mediates all intracellular responses from TNFR1. However, cells with a genetic deficiency of TRADD are unavailable, precluding analysis with mature immune cell types. We circumvented this problem by silencing TRADD expression with small interfering RNA. We found that TRADD is required for TNFR1 to induce NF-kappaB activation and caspase-8-dependent apoptosis but is dispensable for TNFR1-initiated, RIP1-dependent necrosis. Our data also show that TRADD and RIP1 compete for recruitment to the TNFR1 signaling complex and the distinct programs of cell death. Thus, TNFR1-initiated intracellular signals diverge at a very proximal level by the independent association of two death domain-containing proteins, RIP1 and TRADD. These single transducers determine cell fate by triggering NF-kappaB activation, apoptosis, and nonapoptotic death signals through separate and competing signaling pathways.     

c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 are critical mediators of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-induced NF-kappaB activation

The inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins are a family of anti-apoptotic regulators found in viruses and metazoans. c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 are recruited to tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1)-associated complexes where they can regulate receptor-mediated signaling. Both c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 have been implicated in TNFalpha-stimulated NF-kappaB activation. However, individual c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 gene knock-outs in mice did not reveal changes in TNF signaling pathways, and the phenotype of a combined deficiency of c-IAPs has yet to be reported. Here we investigate the role of c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 in TNFalpha-stimulated activation of NF-kappaB. We demonstrate that TNFalpha-induced NF-kappaB activation is severely diminished in the absence of both c-IAP proteins. In addition, combined absence of c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 rendered cells sensitive to TNFalpha-induced cell death. Using cells with genetic ablation of c-IAP1 or cells where the c-IAP proteins were eliminated using IAP antagonists, we show that TNFalpha-induced RIP1 ubiquitination is abrogated in the absence of c-IAPs. Furthermore, we reconstitute the ubiquitination process with purified components in vitro and demonstrate that c-IAP1, in collaboration with the ubiquitin conjugating enzyme (E2) enzyme UbcH5a, mediates polymerization of Lys-63-linked chains on RIP1. Therefore, c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 are required for TNFalpha-stimulated RIP1 ubiquitination and NF-kappaB activation.     

TNF activates Syk protein tyrosine kinase leading to TNF-induced MAPK activation, NF-kappaB activation, and apoptosis

Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), a nonreceptor protein kinase initially found to be expressed only in hemopoietic cells, has now been shown to be expressed in nonhemopoietic cells and to mediate signaling of various cytokines. Whether Syk plays any role in TNF signaling was investigated. Treatment of Jurkat T cells with TNF activated Syk kinase but not ZAP70, another member of Syk kinase family, and the optimum activation occurred at 10 s and with 1 nM TNF. TNF also activated Syk in myeloid and epithelial cells. TNF-induced Syk activation was abolished by piceatannol (Syk-selective inhibitor), which led to the suppression of TNF-induced activation of c- JNK, p38 MAPK, and p44/p42 MAPK. Jurkat cells that did not express Syk (JCaM1, JCaM1/lck) showed lack of TNF-induced Syk, JNK, p38 MAPK, and p44/p42 MAPK activation, as well as TNF-induced IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, IkappaBalpha degradation, and NF-kappaB activation. TNF-induced NF-kappaB activation was enhanced by overexpression of Syk by Syk-cDNA and suppressed when Syk expression was down-regulated by expression of Syk-small interfering RNA (siRNA-Syk). The apoptotic effects of TNF were reduced by up-regulation of NF-kappaB by Syk-cDNA, and enhanced by down-regulation of NF-kappaB by siRNA-Syk. Immunoprecipitation of cells with Syk Abs showed TNF-dependent association of Syk with both TNFR1 and TNFR2; this association was enhanced by up-regulation of Syk expression with Syk-cDNA and suppressed by down-regulation of Syk using siRNA-Syk. Overall, our results demonstrate that Syk activation plays an essential role in TNF-induced activation of JNK, p38 MAPK, p44/p42 MAPK, NF-kappaB, and apoptosis.     

The lysosomal transmembrane protein 9B regulates the activity of inflammatory signaling pathways

The intracellular signaling pathway by which tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induces its pleiotropic actions is well characterized and includes unique components as well as modules shared with other signaling pathways. In addition to the currently known key effectors, further molecules may however modulate the biological response to TNF. In our attempt to characterize novel regulators of the TNF signaling cascade, we have identified transmembrane protein 9B (TMEM9B, c11orf15) as an important component of TNF signaling and a module shared with the interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways. TMEM9B is a glycosylated protein localized in membranes of the lysosome and partially in early endosomes. The expression of TMEM9B is required for the production of proinflammatory cytokines induced by TNF, IL-1beta, and TLR ligands but not for apoptotic cell death triggered by TNF or Fas ligand. TMEM9B is essential in TNF activation of both the NF-kappaB and MAPK pathways. It acts downstream of RIP1 and upstream of the MAPK and IkappaB kinases at the level of the TAK1 complex. These findings indicate that TMEM9B is a key component of inflammatory signaling pathways and suggest that endosomal or lysosomal compartments regulate these pathways.     

The Met-196 -> Arg variation of human tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) affects TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis by impaired NF-kappaB signaling and target gene expression

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced signaling is pivotally involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases. A polymorphism in the TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2) gene resulting in a juxtamembrane inversion from methionine (TNFR2(196MET)) to arginine (TNFR2(196ARG)) has been genetically associated with an increased risk for systemic lupus erythematosus and familial rheumatoid arthritis. Albeit the mutation does not affect the TNF binding kinetics of TNFR2, the present study provides evidence that the mutation results in a significantly lower capability to induce TNFR2-mediated NF-kappaB activation. Pretriggering of TNFR2 with a receptor-specific mutein leads to an enhancement of TNFR1-induced apoptosis, which is further increased in cells carrying the TNFR2(196ARG) variant. A diminished induction of NF-kappaB-dependent target genes conveying either anti-apoptotic or pro-inflammatory functions, such as cIAP1, TRAF1, IL-6, or IL-8 is observed. The mutated form TNFR2(196ARG) shows a reduction of inducible TRAF2 recruitment upon TNF-alpha stimulation. The findings suggest a common molecular mechanism for the involvement of the TNFR2(196ARG) variant in the etiopathogenesis of different chronic inflammatory disorders.