Amplification of IFN-alpha-induced STAT1 activation and inflammatory function by Syk and ITAM-containing adaptors

Nat Immunol. 2004 Nov;5(11):1181-9. doi: 10.1038/ni1126. Epub 2004 Oct 3.

Abstract

A key function of interferons is priming multiple cell types for enhanced activation by cytokines and inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor, bacterial lipopolysaccharide and interferons themselves. Here we show that interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha)-induced activation of the transcriptional activator STAT1 and inflammatory STAT1 target genes was enhanced in IFN-gamma-primed macrophages. Enhanced IFN-alpha signaling and proinflammatory function were dependent on the tyrosine kinase Syk and on adaptor proteins that activate Syk through immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motifs. Increased STAT1 expression contributed to enhanced IFN-alpha-induced STAT1 activation in primed macrophages. These results identify a mechanism by which crosstalk between cytokine and immune cell-specific immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif-dependent signaling pathways regulates macrophage responses to IFN-alpha.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / immunology
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Precursors / immunology
  • Enzyme Precursors / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / immunology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / immunology
  • Interferon-alpha / metabolism*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mice
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / immunology
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta
  • Receptors, Interferon / immunology
  • Receptors, Interferon / metabolism
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • Signal Transduction / immunology
  • Syk Kinase
  • Trans-Activators / immunology
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Enzyme Precursors
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Interferon
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • STAT1 protein, human
  • Stat1 protein, mouse
  • Trans-Activators
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • SYK protein, human
  • Syk Kinase
  • Syk protein, mouse