Calmodulin-dependent kinase IV links Toll-like receptor 4 signaling with survival pathway of activated dendritic cells

Blood. 2008 Jan 15;111(2):723-31. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-05-091173. Epub 2007 Oct 1.

Abstract

Microbial products, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an agonist of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), regulate the lifespan of dendritic cells (DCs) by largely undefined mechanisms. Here, we identify a role for calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase IV (CaMKIV) in this survival program. The pharmacologic inhibition of CaMKs as well as ectopic expression of kinase-inactive CaMKIV decrease the viability of monocyte-derived DCs exposed to bacterial LPS. The defect in TLR4 signaling includes a failure to accumulate the phosphorylated form of the cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB), Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL. CaMKIV null mice have a decreased number of DCs in lymphoid tissues and fail to accumulate mature DCs in spleen on in vivo exposure to LPS. Although isolated Camk4-/- DCs are able to acquire the phenotype typical of mature cells and release normal amounts of cytokines in response to LPS, they fail to accumulate pCREB, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL and therefore do not survive. The transgenic expression of Bcl-2 in CaMKIV null mice results in full recovery of DC survival in response to LPS. These results reveal a novel link between TLR4 and a calcium-dependent signaling cascade comprising CaMKIV-CREB-Bcl-2 that is essential for DC survival.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CREB-Binding Protein / genetics
  • CREB-Binding Protein / immunology
  • CREB-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Calcium Signaling / drug effects
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology*
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4 / genetics
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4 / immunology*
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4 / metabolism*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / immunology
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Monocytes / cytology
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / immunology
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism*
  • bcl-X Protein / genetics
  • bcl-X Protein / immunology
  • bcl-X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • BCL2L1 protein, human
  • Bcl2l1 protein, mouse
  • CREB1 protein, human
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • TLR4 protein, human
  • Tlr4 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • bcl-X Protein
  • Bcl2 protein, mouse
  • CREB-Binding Protein
  • Crebbp protein, mouse
  • CAMK4 protein, human
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 4
  • Camk4 protein, mouse