Role of apoptosis-regulating signal kinase 1 in innate immune responses by Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin

Immunol Cell Biol. 2009 Jan;87(1):100-7. doi: 10.1038/icb.2008.74. Epub 2008 Oct 14.

Abstract

Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) induces innate immune responses through Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4. We investigated the role of apoptosis-regulating signal kinase (ASK) 1 in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated innate immune responses induced by BCG mycobacterial infection. In macrophages, M. bovis BCG stimulation resulted in rapid activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-6, and ROS generation in a TLR2- and TLR4-dependent manner. M. bovis BCG-induced ROS production led to robust activation of ASK1 upstream of the c-jun-N-terminal kinase and p38 MAPK, but not extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2. Blocking ASK1 activity markedly attenuated M. bovis BCG-induced TNF-alpha and IL-6 production by macrophages. Both TLR2 and TLR4 were required for optimal activation of ASK1 in response to M. bovis BCG. Furthermore, we present evidence that TNF receptor-associated factor (TRAF) 6 activities were essential for ROS-mediated ASK1 activation by M. bovis BCG. Finally, ASK1 activities were required for effective control of intracellular mycobacterial survival. Thus, the results of this study suggest a novel role of the TLR-ROS-TRAF6-ASK1 axis in the innate immune response to mycobacteria as a signaling intermediate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Interleukin-6 / immunology
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5 / immunology
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5 / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Macrophages / microbiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / immunology
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism
  • Mycobacterium bovis / immunology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / immunology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / immunology
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism
  • Tuberculosis / enzymology
  • Tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 5
  • Map3k5 protein, mouse
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases