Noncanonical NF-κB activation by the oncoprotein Tio occurs through a nonconserved TRAF3-binding motif

Epstein-Barr virus-driven B cell lymphoma mediated by a direct LMP1-TRAF6 complex

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) drives viral B cell transformation and oncogenesis. LMP1's transforming activity depends on its C-terminal activation region 2 (CTAR2), which induces NF-κB and JNK by engaging TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6). The mechanism of TRAF6 recruitment to LMP1 and its role in LMP1 signalling remains elusive. Here we demonstrate that TRAF6 interacts directly with a viral TRAF6 binding motif within CTAR2. Functional and NMR studies supported by molecular modeling provide insight into the architecture of the LMP1-TRAF6 complex, which differs from that of CD40-TRAF6. The direct recruitment of TRAF6 to LMP1 is essential for NF-κB activation by CTAR2 and the survival of LMP1-driven lymphoma. Disruption of the LMP1-TRAF6 complex by inhibitory peptides interferes with the survival of EBV-transformed B cells. In this work, we identify LMP1-TRAF6 as a critical virus-host interface and validate this interaction as a potential therapeutic target in EBV-associated cancer.

Alternative NF-κB Signaling Discriminates Induction of the Tumor Marker Fascin by the Viral Oncoproteins Tax-1 and Tax-2 of Human T-Cell Leukemia Viruses

Transcriptional regulation of the actin-bundling protein and tumor marker Fascin is highly diverse depending on cell and tumor type. Previously, we discovered that the viral oncoprotein Tax-1 of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) considerably enhances Fascin expression in T-cells, depending on classical NF-κB signaling. In this study, we asked if the non-oncogenic Tax-2 of the related HTLV-2 is still able to induce Fascin by using luciferase assays, immunoblot, and qPCR. We found that Tax-2 only slightly induces Fascin expression compared to Tax-1; however, both Tax-1 and Tax-2 comparably activated a 1.6 kb fragment in the human Fascin promoter including Tax-responsive elements. Furthermore, we identified a link between Tax-induced activity of the alternative NF-κB pathway and Fascin induction. While treatment with the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC)-mimetic AZD5582, a compound known to robustly activate alternative NF-κB signaling, did not induce Fascin, combination of AZD5582 with activation of classical NF-κB signaling by Tax-2 significantly induced Fascin expression. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that both classical and alternative NF-κB activity are necessary for strong Fascin induction by the viral Tax oncoproteins, thus, shedding new light on the regulation of Fascin in T-cells and during viral transformation.

NEK2 enhances malignancies of glioblastoma via NIK/NF-κB pathway

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most lethal primary brain tumor with a poor median survival less than 15 months. Despite the development of the clinical strategies over the decades, the outcomes for GBM patients remain dismal due to the strong proliferation and invasion ability and the acquired resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Therefore, developing new biomarkers and therapeutic strategies targeting GBM is in urgent need. In this study, gene expression datasets and relevant clinical information were extracted from public cancers/glioma datasets, including TCGA, GRAVENDEEL, REMBRANDT, and GILL datasets. Differentially expressed genes were analyzed and NEK2 was picked as a candidate gene for subsequent validation. Human tissue samples and corresponding data were collected from our center and detected by immunohistochemistry analysis. Molecular biological assays and in vivo xenograft transplantation were performed to confirm the bioinformatic findings. High-throughput RNA sequencing, followed by KEGG analysis, GSEA analysis and GO analysis were conducted to identify potential signaling pathways related to NEK2 expression. Subsequent mechanism assays were used to verify the relationship between NEK2 and NF-κB signaling. Overall, we identified that NEK2 is significantly upregulated in GBM and the higher expression of NEK2 exhibited a poorer prognosis. Functionally, NEK2 knockdown attenuated cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and tumorigenesis of GBM while NEK2 overexpression promoted the GBM progression. Furthermore, High-throughput RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis indicated that NEK2 was positively related to the NF-κB signaling pathway in GBM. Mechanically, NEK2 activated the noncanonical NF-κB signaling pathway by phosphorylating NIK and increasing the activity and stability of NIK. In conclusion, NEK2 promoted the progression of GBM through activation of noncanonical NF-κB signaling, indicating that NEK2- NF-κB axis could be a potential drug target for GBM.

Interactions between Salmonella and host macrophages - Dissecting NF-κB signaling pathway responses

Salmonella not only invades host cells, but also replicates intracellularly to cause a range of diseases, including gastroenteritis and systemic infections such as typhoid fever. The body's first line of defense against pathogens is the innate immune response system that can protect against Salmonella invasion and replication. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is an important transcriptional regulator that plays an important role in host inflammatory responses to pathogens. Both the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathways are activated by Salmonella in many different ways through its virulence factors, leading to the release of inflammatory factors and the activation of inflammatory responses in mammalian hosts. Equally, Salmonella, as an enteropathogen, has accordingly evolved strategies to disturb NF-κB activation, such as secreting some effector proteins by type III secretion systems as well as inducing host cells to express NF-κB pathway inhibitors, allowing it to colonize and persistently infect the hosts. This review focuses on how Salmonella activates NF-κB signaling pathway and the strategies used by Salmonella to interfere with the NF-κB pathway activation.

Pharmacological significance of the non-canonical NF-κB pathway in tumorigenesis

The understanding of the impact of the non-canonical NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) pathway in several human diseases including autoimmune, inflammatory and cancers has been on the rise. This pathway induces the expression of several important genes involved in diverse biological processes. Though progress has been made in understanding the activation, regulation and biological functions of the non-canonical NF-κB signaling mechanism, no specific drug has been approved to target NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK), the key signaling molecule in this pathway. The inhibition of NIK can serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for various ailments, especially for the treatment of different types of human cancers. There are other targetable downstream molecules in this pathway as well. This review highlights the possible role of the non-canonical NF-κB pathway in normal physiology as well as in different cancers and discusses about various pharmacological strategies to modulate the activation of this pathway.

Loci Associated With Antibody Response in Feral Swine (Sus scrofa) Infected With Brucella suis

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) are a destructive invasive species widespread throughout the United States that disrupt ecosystems, damage crops, and carry pathogens of concern for the health of domestic stock and humans including Brucella suis-the causative organism for swine brucellosis. In domestic swine, brucellosis results in reproductive failure due to abortions and infertility. Contact with infected feral swine poses spillover risks to domestic pigs as well as humans, companion animals, wildlife, and other livestock. Genetic factors influence the outcome of infectious diseases; therefore, genome wide association studies (GWAS) of differential immune responses among feral swine can provide an understanding of disease dynamics and inform management to prevent the spillover of brucellosis from feral swine to domestic pigs. We sought to identify loci associated with differential antibody responses among feral swine naturally infected with B. suis using a case-control GWAS. Tissue, serum, and genotype data (68,516 bi-allelic single nucleotide polymorphisms) collected from 47 feral swine were analyzed in this study. The 47 feral swine were culture positive for Brucella spp. Of these 47, 16 were antibody positive (cases) whereas 31 were antibody negative (controls). Single-locus GWAS were performed using efficient mixed-model association eXpedited (EMMAX) methodology with three genetic models: additive, dominant, and recessive. Eight loci associated with seroconversion were identified on chromosome 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 18. Subsequent bioinformatic analyses revealed nine putative candidate genes related to immune function, most notably phagocytosis and induction of an inflammatory response. Identified loci and putative candidate genes may play an important role in host immune responses to B. suis infection, characterized by a detectable bacterial presence yet a differential antibody response. Given that antibody tests are used to evaluate brucellosis infection in domestic pigs and for disease surveillance in invasive feral swine, additional studies are needed to fully understand the genetic component of the response to B. suis infection and to more effectively translate estimates of Brucella spp. antibody prevalence among feral swine to disease control management action.

Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Associated Factor 3 Modulates Cartilage Degradation through Suppression of Interleukin 17 Signaling

Interleukin 17A (IL-17A) is critical in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases through driving inflammatory cascades. However, the role of IL-17 in osteoarthritis (OA) is not well understood. Tumor necrosis factor-receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3) is a receptor proximal negative regulator of IL-17 signaling. It remains unclear whether TRAF3 exerts regulatory effects on cartilage degradation and contributes to the pathogenesis of OA. In this study, we found that TRAF3 notably suppressed IL-17-induced NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and, subsequently, the production of matrix-degrading enzymes. TRAF3 depletion enhanced IL-17 signaling, along with increased matrix-degrading enzyme production. In vivo, cartilage destruction caused by surgery-induced OA was alleviated markedly both in 1l17a-deficient mice and in TRAF3 transgenic mice. In contrast, silencing TRAF3 through adenoviruses worsened cartilage degradation in experimental OA. Moreover, the destructive effect of IL-17 on cartilage was abolished in TRAF3 transgenic mice in an IL-17 intra-articular injection animal model. Similarly, genetic deletion of IL-17 blocked TRAF3 knockdown-mediated promotion of cartilage destruction, suggesting that the protective effect of TRAF3 on cartilage is mediated by its suppression of IL-17 signaling. Collectively, our results suggest that TRAF3 negatively regulates IL-17-mediated cartilage degradation and pathogenesis of OA, and may serve as a potential new therapy target for OA.

Noncanonical NF-κB in Cancer

The NF-κB pathway is a critical regulator of immune responses and is often dysregulated in cancer. Two NF-κB pathways have been described to mediate these responses, the canonical and the noncanonical. While understudied compared to the canonical NF-κB pathway, noncanonical NF-κB and its components have been shown to have effects, usually protumorigenic, in many different cancer types. Here, we review noncanonical NF-κB pathways and discuss its important roles in promoting cancer. We also discuss alternative NF-κB-independent functions of some the components of noncanonical NF-κB signaling. Finally, we discuss important crosstalk between canonical and noncanonical signaling, which blurs the two pathways, indicating that understanding the full picture of NF-κB regulation is critical to deciphering how this broad pathway promotes oncogenesis.

Artesunate-derived monomeric, dimeric and trimeric experimental drugs - Their unique mechanistic basis and pronounced antiherpesviral activity

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major human pathogen and is associated with severe pathology, such as life-threatening courses of infection in immunocompromised individuals and neonates. Currently, antiviral therapy is still hampered by a considerable toxicity of the available drugs and induction of viral resistance. Recently, we and others reported the very potent antiviral activity of the broad antiinfective drug artesunate in vitro and in vivo. Here, we investigated further optimized analogs including monomeric, dimeric and trimeric derivatives belonging to this highly interesting chemical group of experimental drugs (sesquiterpenes/trioxanes) and compared these to the previously identified trimeric artesunate compound TF27. We could demonstrate that (i) seven of the eight investigated monomeric, dimeric and trimeric artesunate derivatives, i.e. TF79, TF85, TF87, TF93.2.4, TF111, TF57a and TF57ab, exerted a strong anti-HCMV activity in primary human fibroblasts, (ii) the EC₅₀ values ranged in the low to sub-micromolar concentrations and indicated a higher antiviral potency than the recently described artesunate analogs, (iii) one trimeric compound, TF79, showed a very promising EC₅₀ of 0.03 ± 0.00 μM, which even exceled the antiviral potency of TF27 (EC₅₀ 0.04 ± 0.01 μM), (iv) levels of cytotoxicity (quantitative measurement of lactate dehydrogenase release) were low in a range between 100 and 30 μM and thus different from antiviral concentrations, (v) an analysis of protein expression levels indicated a potent block of viral protein expression, and (vi) data from a NF-κB reporter cell system strongly suggested that these compounds share the same antiviral mechanism. Taken together, our data on these novel compounds strongly encourages our earlier concept on the oligomerization and hybridization of artesunate analogs, providing an excellent platform for the generation of antiherpesviral drugs.

The non-canonical NF-κB pathway in immunity and inflammation

The nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) family of transcription factors is activated by canonical and non-canonical signalling pathways, which differ in both signalling components and biological functions. Recent studies have revealed important roles for the non-canonical NF-κB pathway in regulating different aspects of immune functions. Defects in non-canonical NF-κB signalling are associated with severe immune deficiencies, whereas dysregulated activation of this pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Here we review the signalling mechanisms and the biological function of the non-canonical NF-κB pathway. We also discuss recent progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms regulating non-canonical NF-κB pathway activation, which may provide new opportunities for therapeutic strategies.

TRAF3 signaling: Competitive binding and evolvability of adaptive viral molecular mimicry

BACKGROUND

The tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) associated factor 3 (TRAF3) is a key node in innate and adaptive immune signaling pathways. TRAF3 negatively regulates the activation of the canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways and is one of the key proteins in antiviral immunity.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

Here we provide a structural overview of TRAF3 signaling in terms of its competitive binding and consequences to the cellular network. For completion, we also include molecular mimicry of TRAF3 physiological partners by some viral proteins.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

By out-competing host partners, viral proteins aim to subvert TRAF3 antiviral action. Mechanistically, dynamic, competitive binding by the organism's own proteins and same-site adaptive pathogen mimicry follow the same conformational selection principles.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

Our premise is that irrespective of the eliciting event - physiological or acquired pathogenic trait - pathway activation (or suppression) may embrace similar conformational principles. However, even though here we largely focus on competitive binding at a shared site, similar to physiological signaling other pathogen subversion mechanisms can also be at play. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "System Genetics" Guest Editor: Dr. Yudong Cai and Dr. Tao Huang.

Noncanonical NF-κB Signaling in Health and Disease

Noncanonical NF-κB signaling differs from canonical NF-κB signaling by being activated through different cell surface receptors, cytoplasmic adaptors, and NF-κB dimers. Under normal physiological conditions, this noncanonical pathway has been implicated in diverse biological processes, including lymphoid organogenesis, B cell maturation, osteoclast differentiation, and various functions of other immune cells. Recently, dysfunction of this pathway has also been causally associated with numerous immune-mediated pathologies and human malignancies. Here, we summarize the core elements as well as the recently identified novel regulators of the noncanonical NF-κB signaling pathway. The involvement of this pathway in different pathologies and the potential therapeutic options that are currently envisaged are also discussed.

Targeting signaling factors for degradation, an emerging mechanism for TRAF functions

Tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-associated factors (TRAFs) form a family of proteins that are best known as signaling adapters of TNFRs. However, emerging evidence suggests that TRAF proteins, particularly TRAF2 and TRAF3, also regulate signal transduction by controlling the fate of intracellular signaling factors. A well-recognized function of TRAF2 and TRAF3 in this aspect is to mediate ubiquitin-dependent degradation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-inducing kinase (NIK), an action required for the control of NIK-regulated non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathway. TRAF2 and TRAF3 form a complex with the E3 ubiquitin ligase cIAP (cIAP1 or cIAP2), in which TRAF3 serves as the NIK-binding adapter. Recent evidence suggests that the cIAP-TRAF2-TRAF3 E3 complex also targets additional signaling factors for ubiquitin-dependent degradation, thereby regulating important aspects of immune and inflammatory responses. This review provides both historical aspects and new insights into the signaling functions of this ubiquitination system.

Discovery of small molecule CD40-TRAF6 inhibitors

The CD154-CD40 receptor complex plays a pivotal role in several inflammatory pathways. Attempts to inhibit the formation of this complex have resulted in systemic side effects. Downstream inhibition of the CD40 signaling pathway therefore seems a better way to ameliorate inflammatory disease. To relay a signal, the CD40 receptor recruits adapter proteins called tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors (TRAFs). CD40-TRAF6 interactions are known to play an essential role in several inflammatory diseases. We used in silico, in vitro, and in vivo experiments to identify and characterize compounds that block CD40-TRAF6 interactions. We present in detail our drug docking and optimization pipeline and show how we used it to find lead compounds that reduce inflammation in models of peritonitis and sepsis. These compounds appear to be good leads for drug development, given the observed absence of side effects and their demonstrated efficacy for peritonitis and sepsis in mouse models.

Roles for TNF-receptor associated factor 3 (TRAF3) in lymphocyte functions

TRAF3 is an adapter protein that serves and regulates the functions of several types of receptors, located both inside the cell and at the plasma membrane. These include members of the TNF receptor superfamily (TNFR-SF), toll-like receptors (TLR), and cytokine receptors. It has become increasingly evident that the roles and functions of TRAF3 are highly context-dependent. TRAF3 can serve distinct roles for different receptors in the same cell, and also has highly cell-type-dependent functions. This review focuses upon the current state of knowledge regarding how TRAF3 regulates the biology and effector functions of B and T lymphocytes, two major cell types of the adaptive immune response in which TRAF3 has markedly distinct roles.

NF-κB and IRF7 pathway activation by Epstein-Barr virus Latent Membrane Protein 1

The principal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) oncoprotein, Latent Membrane Protein 1 (LMP1), is expressed in most EBV-associated human malignancies. LMP1 mimics CD40 receptor signaling to provide infected cells with constitutive NF-κB, MAP kinase, IRF7, and PI3 kinase pathway stimulation. EBV-transformed B-cells are particularly dependent on constitutive NF-κB activity, and rapidly undergo apoptosis upon NF-κB blockade. Here, we review LMP1 function, with special attention to current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of LMP1-mediated NF-κB and IRF7 pathway activation. Recent advances include the elucidation of transmembrane motifs important for LMP1 trafficking and ligand-independent signaling, analysis of genome-wide LMP1 gene targets, and the identification of novel cell proteins that mediate LMP1 NF-κB and IRF7 pathway activation.