The inducible kinase IKKi is required for IL-17-dependent signaling associated with neutrophilia and pulmonary inflammation

Nat Immunol. 2011 Aug 7;12(9):844-52. doi: 10.1038/ni.2080.

Abstract

Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is critical in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here we report that Act1, the key adaptor for the IL-17 receptor (IL-7R), formed a complex with the inducible kinase IKKi after stimulation with IL-17. Through the use of IKKi-deficient mice, we found that IKKi was required for IL-17-induced expression of genes encoding inflammatory molecules in primary airway epithelial cells, neutrophilia and pulmonary inflammation. IKKi deficiency abolished IL-17-induced formation of the complex of Act1 and the adaptors TRAF2 and TRAF5, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and mRNA stability, whereas the Act1-TRAF6-transcription factor NF-κB axis was retained. IKKi was required for IL-17-induced phosphorylation of Act1 on Ser311, adjacent to a putative TRAF-binding motif. Substitution of the serine at position 311 with alanine impaired the IL-17-mediated Act1-TRAF2-TRAF5 interaction and gene expression. Thus, IKKi is a kinase newly identified as modulating IL-17 signaling through its effect on Act1 phosphorylation and consequent function.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing* / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing* / immunology
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing* / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Chemokine CXCL1 / genetics
  • Chemokine CXCL1 / immunology*
  • Chemokine CXCL1 / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / immunology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • I-kappa B Kinase* / deficiency
  • I-kappa B Kinase* / genetics
  • I-kappa B Kinase* / immunology
  • Interleukin-17 / immunology
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-17 / pharmacology
  • Lung
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / immunology
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Neutrophils / immunology*
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Pneumonia / genetics
  • Pneumonia / immunology*
  • Pneumonia / metabolism
  • RNA Stability / drug effects
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Interleukin-17 / immunology
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 5 / immunology
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 5 / metabolism
  • Th17 Cells / immunology*
  • Th17 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Chemokine CXCL1
  • Interleukin-17
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Interleukin-17
  • T2bp protein, mouse
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 5
  • Traf3ip2 protein, mouse
  • I-kappa B Kinase
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases