RasGRP3 limits Toll-like receptor-triggered inflammatory response in macrophages by activating Rap1 small GTPase

Nat Commun. 2014 Aug 14:5:4657. doi: 10.1038/ncomms5657.

Abstract

Host immune cells can detect and destruct invading pathogens via pattern-recognition receptors. Small Rap GTPases act as conserved molecular switches coupling extracellular signals to various cellular responses, but their roles as regulators in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling have not been fully elucidated. Here we report that Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein 3 (RasGRP3), a guanine nucleotide-exchange factor activating Ras and Rap1, limits production of proinflammatory cytokines (especially IL-6) in macrophages by activating Rap1 on activation by low levels of TLR agonists. We demonstrate that RasGRP3, a dominant member of RasGRPs in macrophages, impairs TLR3/4/9-induced IL-6 production and relieves dextrane sulphate sodium-induced colitis and collagen-induced arthritis. In RasGRP3-deficient RAW264.7 cells obtained by CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, TLR3/4/9-induced activation of Rap1 was inhibited while ERK1/2 activation was enhanced. Our study suggests that RasGRP3 limits inflammatory response by activating Rap1 on low-intensity pathogen infection, setting a threshold for preventing excessive inflammatory response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Experimental / pathology
  • Arthritis, Experimental / physiopathology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / physiology*
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation / physiopathology*
  • Interleukin-6 / physiology
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Macrophages / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / physiology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / physiology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / physiology
  • Toll-Like Receptors / physiology*
  • rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • ras Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / deficiency
  • ras Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / genetics
  • ras Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / physiology*

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • RasGRP3 protein, mouse
  • TLR3 protein, mouse
  • Tlr4 protein, mouse
  • Tlr9 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • ras Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • rap1 GTP-Binding Proteins