E3 ligase WWP2 negatively regulates TLR3-mediated innate immune response by targeting TRIF for ubiquitination and degradation

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Mar 26;110(13):5115-20. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1220271110. Epub 2013 Mar 11.

Abstract

Recognition of viral double-stranded RNA by Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) triggers activation of the transcription factors NF-κB and interferon regulated factor 3, leading to induction of type I interferons and proinflammatory cytokines. TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) is an adapter protein required for TLR3-mediated signaling. Here we identified the E3 ubiquitin ligase WW domain-containing protein 2 (WWP2) as a TRIF-associated protein by biochemical purification. WWP2 mediated K48-linked ubiquitination and degradation of TRIF upon TLR3 activation. Overexpression of WWP2 inhibited TLR3-mediated NF-κB and interferon regulated factor 3 activation, whereas knockdown of WWP2 had opposite effects. We generated Wwp2-deficient mice to further investigate the roles of Wwp2 in innate immune responses. Consistently, production of IFN-β, CCL5, TNFα, and IL-6 in response to the TLR3 ligand poly(I:C) was elevated in Wwp2(-/-) macrophages and Wwp2-deficient mice exhibited increased susceptibility to poly(I:C)-induced death than the control littermates. Our findings suggest that WWP2 negatively regulates TLR3-mediated innate immune and inflammatory responses by targeting TRIF for ubiquitination and degradation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology*
  • Interferon Inducers / pharmacology
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / genetics
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / immunology
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / immunology
  • Poly I-C / pharmacology
  • Proteolysis*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / immunology*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / immunology*
  • Ubiquitination / drug effects
  • Ubiquitination / genetics
  • Ubiquitination / immunology*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects
  • Up-Regulation / genetics
  • Up-Regulation / immunology

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Cytokines
  • Interferon Inducers
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3
  • Irf3 protein, mouse
  • NF-kappa B
  • TICAM-1 protein, mouse
  • TLR3 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3
  • Wwp2 protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Poly I-C