miR-144 attenuates the host response to influenza virus by targeting the TRAF6-IRF7 signaling axis.

Antiviral responses must rapidly defend against infection while minimizing inflammatory damage, but the mechanisms that regulate the magnitude of response within an infected cell are not well understood. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that suppress protein levels by binding target sequences on their cognate mRNA. Here, we identify miR-144 as a negative regulator of the host antiviral response.

MiR-155-regulated molecular network orchestrates cell fate in the innate and adaptive immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The regulation of host-pathogen interactions during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection remains unresolved. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of the immune system, and so we used a systems biology approach to construct an miRNA regulatory network activated in macrophages during Mtb infection. Our network comprises 77 putative miRNAs that are associated with temporal gene expression signatures in macrophages early after Mtb infection.

Genomic architecture of inflammatory bowel disease in five families with multiple affected individuals.

Currently, the best clinical predictor for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is family history. Over 163 sequence variants have been associated with IBD in genome-wide association studies, but they have weak effects and explain only a fraction of the observed heritability. It is expected that additional variants contribute to the genomic architecture of IBD, possibly including rare variants with effect sizes larger than the identified common variants.

Characterization of innate responses to influenza virus infection in a novel lung type I epithelial cell model.

Type I alveolar epithelial cells are a replicative niche for influenza in vivo, yet their response to infection is not fully understood. To better characterize their cellular responses, we have created an immortalized murine lung epithelial type I cell line (LET1). These cells support spreading influenza virus infection in the absence of exogenous protease and thus permit simultaneous analysis of viral replication dynamics and host cell responses.

Cutting edge: microRNA regulation of macrophage fusion into multinucleated giant cells.

Cellular fusion of macrophages into multinucleated giant cells is a distinguishing feature of the granulomatous response to inflammation, infection, and foreign bodies (Kawai and Akira. 2011. Immunity 34: 637-650).

Systems analysis identifies an essential role for SHANK-associated RH domain-interacting protein (SHARPIN) in macrophage Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) responses.

Precise control of the innate immune response is essential to ensure host defense against infection while avoiding inflammatory disease. Systems-level analyses of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-stimulated macrophages suggested that SHANK-associated RH domain-interacting protein (SHARPIN) might play a role in the TLR pathway. This hypothesis was supported by the observation that macrophages derived from chronic proliferative dermatitis mutation (cpdm) mice, which harbor a spontaneous null mutation in the Sharpin gene, exhibited impaired IL-12 production in response to TLR activation.

RIP4 regulates epidermal differentiation and cutaneous inflammation.

The receptor-interacting protein (RIP) family kinase RIP4 interacts with protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms and is implicated in PKC-dependent signaling pathways. RIP4(-/-) mice die at birth with epidermal differentiation defects, causing fusions of all external orifices and loss of the esophageal lumen. To further understand RIP4 function in the skin, we generated transgenic mice with epidermal-specific expression of RIP4 using the human keratin-14 promoter (K14-RIP4).

Requirement of IL-17RA in Con A induced hepatitis and negative regulation of IL-17 production in mouse T cells.

Th17 cells, a subset of T cells involved in autoimmunity and host defense against extracellular Gram-negative infection, express both IL-17A and IL-17F. Both IL-17A and IL-17F can signal via the IL-17RA; however, IL-17F does so at a 1- to 2-log higher concentration than IL-17A. In this study, we show that the IL-17F homodimer via IL-17RA is a negative regulator of IL-17 production in T cells and suggest a mechanism whereby IL-17RA on T cells serves as an autocrine/paracrine regulator of IL-17 synthesis in T cells.

Opposing activities of two novel members of the IL-1 ligand family regulate skin inflammation.

The interleukin (IL)-1 family members IL-1alpha, -1beta, and -18 are potent inflammatory cytokines whose activities are dependent on heterodimeric receptors of the IL-1R superfamily, and which are regulated by soluble antagonists. Recently, several new IL-1 family members have been identified. To determine the role of one of these family members in the skin, transgenic mice expressing IL1F6 in basal keratinocytes were generated.

Cutting edge: interleukin 17 signals through a heteromeric receptor complex.

IL-17 is an inflammatory cytokine produced primarily by a unique lineage of CD4 T cells that plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of multiple autoimmune diseases. IL-17RA is a ubiquitously expressed receptor that is essential for IL-17 biologic activity. Despite widespread receptor expression, the activity of IL-17 is most classically defined by its ability to induce the expression of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and other mediators by stromal cells.

Protein kinase C-associated kinase is not required for the development of peripheral B lymphocyte populations.

Protein kinase C-associated kinase (PKK; DIK/RIP4) is an ankyrin-repeat containing serine/threonine receptor-interacting protein (RIP)-family kinase that can activate NFkappaB, and is required for keratinocyte development. In earlier studies, the expression of a catalytically inactive mutant of PKK in the B cell lineage resulted in a marked decrease in peripheral B cells in the spleen and a severe reduction of B-1 B cells. Here we explore the consequences of a null mutation in PKK with respect to the generation of peripheral B cell lineages and the activation of NFkappaB.

Requirement of IL-17 receptor signaling in radiation-resistant cells in the joint for full progression of destructive synovitis.

IL-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine suspected to be involved in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. In the present study, we report that IL-17R signaling is required in radiation-resistant cells in the joint for full progression of chronic synovitis and bone erosion. Repeated injections of Gram-positive bacterial cell wall fragments (streptococcal cell wall) directly into the knee joint of naive IL-17R-deficient (IL-17R-/-) mice had no effect on the acute phase of arthritis but prevented progression to chronic destructive synovitis as was noted in wild-type (wt) mice.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibits seizures in mice via p75 receptors.

Brain inflammatory reactions have been described in various neurological disorders, including epilepsy. Although there is clear evidence that cytokines affect neuroglial functions and blood-brain barrier permeability, scarce information is available on the functional consequences of brain inflammation on seizures. We studied the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-alpha and its p55 and p75 receptors in seizure modulation.

Distinct roles for ADAM10 and ADAM17 in ectodomain shedding of six EGFR ligands.

All ligands of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which has important roles in development and disease, are released from the membrane by proteases. In several instances, ectodomain release is critical for activation of EGFR ligands, highlighting the importance of identifying EGFR ligand sheddases. Here, we uncovered the sheddases for six EGFR ligands using mouse embryonic cells lacking candidate-releasing enzymes (a disintegrin and metalloprotease [ADAM] 9, 10, 12, 15, 17, and 19).

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme controls surface expression of c-Kit and survival of embryonic stem cell-derived mast cells.

Transmembrane metalloproteinases of the disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) family control cell signaling interactions via hydrolysis of protein extracellular domains. Prior work has shown that the receptor tyrosine kinase, c-Kit (CD117), is essential for mast cell survival and that serum levels of c-Kit increase in proliferative mast cell disorders, suggesting the existence of c-Kit shedding pathways in mast cells. In the present work, we report that tumor necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme (TACE; ADAM-17) mediates shedding of c-Kit.

Complementary signaling through flt3 and interleukin-7 receptor alpha is indispensable for fetal and adult B cell genesis.

Extensive studies of mice deficient in one or several cytokine receptors have failed to support an indispensable role of cytokines in development of multiple blood cell lineages. Whereas B1 B cells and Igs are sustained at normal levels throughout life of mice deficient in IL-7, IL-7Ralpha, common cytokine receptor gamma chain, or flt3 ligand (FL), we report here that adult mice double deficient in IL-7Ralpha and FL completely lack visible LNs, conventional IgM+ B cells, IgA+ plasma cells, and B1 cells, and consequently produce no Igs. All stages of committed B cell progenitors are undetectable in FL-/- x IL-7Ralpha-/- BM that also lacks expression of the B cell commitment factor Pax5 and its direct target genes.

Substrate specificity and inducibility of TACE (tumour necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme) revisited: the Ala-Val preference, and induced intrinsic activity.

Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha)-converting enzyme (TACE/ADAM-17, where ADAM stands for a disintegrin and metalloproteinase) releases from the cell surface the extracellular domains of TNF and several other proteins. Previous studies have found that, while purified TACE preferentially cleaves peptides representing the processing sites in TNF and transforming growth factor alpha, the cellular enzyme nonetheless also sheds proteins with divergent cleavage sites very efficiently. More recent work, identifying the cleavage site in the p75 TNF receptor, quantifying the susceptibility of additional peptides to cleavage by TACE and identifying additional protein substrates, underlines the complexity of TACE-substrate interactions.

An assessment of ADAMs in bone cells: absence of TACE activity prevents osteoclast recruitment and the formation of the marrow cavity in developing long bones.

ADAMs (A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease domain) are metalloprotease-disintegrin proteins that have been implicated in cell adhesion, protein ectodomain shedding, matrix protein degradation and cell fusion. Since such events are critical for bone resorption and osteoclast recruitment, we investigated whether they require ADAMs. We report here which ADAMs we have identified in bone cells, as well as our analysis of the generation, migration and resorptive activity of osteoclasts in developing metatarsals of mouse embryos lacking catalytically active ADAM 17 [TNFalpha converting enzyme (TACE)].

Semaphorin 7A promotes axon outgrowth through integrins and MAPKs.

Striking parallels exist between immune and nervous system cellular signalling mechanisms. Molecules originally shown to be critical for immune responses also serve neuronal functions, and similarly neural guidance cues can modulate immune function. We show here that semaphorin 7A (Sema7A), a membrane-anchored member of the semaphorin family of guidance proteins previously known for its immunomodulatory effects, can also mediate neuronal functions.

Defective thymocyte apoptosis and accelerated autoimmune diseases in TRAIL-/- mice.

TRAIL, the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, selectively induces apoptosis of tumor cells, but not most normal cells. Its role in normal, nontransformed tissues is not clear. We report here that mice deficient in TRAIL have a severe defect in thymocyte apoptosis-thus, thymic deletion induced by T cell receptor ligation is severely impaired.

Nature's TRAIL--on a path to cancer immunotherapy.

The TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) offers great promise as a cancer therapeutic. Initially, soluble recombinant versions of the TRAIL molecule have exhibited specific tumoricidal activity against a variety of tumors alone, or in combination with other cancer treatments, and much anticipation awaits the outcomes from early clinical trials. More recently, the natural role of TRAIL has been explored in tumor and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation models in the mouse.

Bone marrow B cell apoptosis during in vivo influenza virus infection requires TNF-alpha and lymphotoxin-alpha.

Suppression of bone marrow myeloid and erythroid progenitor cells occurs after infection with a variety of different viruses. In this study, we characterize the alterations in bone marrow (BM) lymphocytes after influenza virus infection in mice. We found a severe loss of BM B cells, particularly CD43(low/-)B220(+) pre-B and immature B cells, in influenza virus-infected mice.

T cells require TRAIL for optimal graft-versus-tumor activity.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the TNF superfamily that exhibits specific tumoricidal activity against a variety of tumors. It is expressed on different cells of the immune system and plays a role in natural killer cell-mediated tumor surveillance. In allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation, the reactivity of the donor T cell against malignant cells is essential for the graft-versus-tumor (GVT) effect.

RIP4 is an ankyrin repeat-containing kinase essential for keratinocyte differentiation.

The epidermis is a stratified, continually renewing epithelium dependent on a balance among cell proliferation, differentiation, and death for homeostasis. In normal epidermis, a mitotically active basal layer gives rise to terminally differentiating keratinocytes that migrate outward and are ultimately sloughed from the skin surface as enucleated squames. Although many proteins are known to function in maintaining epidermal homeostasis, the molecular coordination of these events is poorly understood.

Structure-function relationship and role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme in the down-regulation of L-selectin by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

It has been recently described that some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are able to induce the shedding of L-selectin in neutrophils, an adhesion molecule that plays an essential role in the inflammatory response. We have found that, according to this capability, NSAIDs could be grouped into three categories. A high releaser group (flufenamic, meclofenamic, and mefenamic acids, diclofenac and aceclofenac), a group of moderate releasers (aspirin, indomethacin, nimesulide, flurbiprofen, and ketoprofen), and a non-releaser group (phenylbutazone and the oxicams, piroxicam and meloxicam).