Negative regulation of TLR inflammatory signaling by the SUMO-deconjugating enzyme SENP6

SENP6 restricts the IFN-I-induced signaling pathway and antiviral activity by deSUMOylating USP8

Type I interferon (IFN-I) exhibits broad-spectrum antiviral properties and is commonly employed in clinical for the treatment of viral infections. In this study, we unveil SENP6 as a potent regulator of IFN-I antiviral activity. SENP6 does not impact the production of IFN-I induced by viruses but rather modulates IFN-I-activated signaling. Mechanistically, SENP6 constitutively interacts with USP8 and inhibits the SUMOylation of USP8, consequently restricting the interaction between USP8 and IFNAR2. The dissociation of USP8 from IFNAR2 enhances IFNAR2 ubiquitination and degradation, thus attenuating IFN-I antiviral activity. Correspondingly, the downregulation of SENP6 promotes the interaction between USP8 and IFNAR2, leading to a reduction in IFNAR2 ubiquitination and, consequently, an enhancement in IFN-I-induced signaling. This study deciphers a critical deSUMOylation-deubiquitination crosstalk that finely regulates the IFN-I response to viral infection.

IDENTIFICATION OF A NOVEL SEPSIS PROGNOSIS MODEL: BASED ON TRANSCRIPTOME AND PROTEOME ANALYSIS

ABSTRACT

Sepsis is a highly prevalent and deadly disease. Currently, there is a lack of ideal biomarker prognostis models for sepsis. We attempt to construct a model capable of predicting the prognosis of sepsis patients by integrating transcriptomic and proteomic data. Through analysis of proteomic and transcriptomic data, we identified 25 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Single-factor Cox-Lasso regression analysis identified 16 DEGs (overall survival-DEGs) associated with patient prognosis. Through multifactor Cox-Lasso regression analysis, a prognostic model based on these 16 genes was constructed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used to further validate the high stability and good predictive ability of this prognostic model with internal and external data. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis of overall survival-DEGs and differentially expressed genes between high and low-risk groups based on the prognostic model revealed significant enrichment in immune-related pathways, particularly those associated with viral regulation.

Unconventional posttranslational modification in innate immunity

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play a crucial role in innate immunity, and a complex network tightly controls their signaling cascades to maintain immune homeostasis. Within the modification network, posttranslational modifications (PTMs) are at the core of signaling cascades. Conventional PTMs, which include phosphorylation and ubiquitination, have been extensively studied. The regulatory role of unconventional PTMs, involving unanchored ubiquitination, ISGylation, SUMOylation, NEDDylation, methylation, acetylation, palmitoylation, glycosylation, and myristylation, in the modulation of innate immune signaling pathways has been increasingly investigated. This comprehensive review delves into the emerging field of unconventional PTMs and highlights their pivotal role in innate immunity.

The crosstalk between SUMOylation and immune system in host-pathogen interactions

Pathogens can not only cause infectious diseases, immune system diseases, and chronic diseases, but also serve as potential triggers or initiators for certain tumors. They directly or indirectly damage human health and are one of the leading causes of global deaths. Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) modification, a type of protein post-translational modification (PTM) that occurs when SUMO groups bond covalently to particular lysine residues on substrate proteins, plays a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunologic responses, as well as pathogen-host immune system crosstalk. SUMOylation participates in the host's defense against pathogens by regulating immune responses, while numerically vast and taxonomically diverse pathogens have evolved to exploit the cellular SUMO modification system to break through innate defenses. Here, we describe the characteristics and multiple functions of SUMOylation as a pivotal PTM mechanism, the tactics employed by various pathogens to counteract the immune system through targeting host SUMOylation, and the character of the SUMOylation system in the fight between pathogens and the host immune system. We have also included a summary of the potential anti-pathogen SUMO enzyme inhibitors. This review serves as a reference for basic research and clinical practice in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of pathogenic microorganism-caused disorders.

Genomic Regions Associated with Resistance to Gastrointestinal Nematode Parasites in Sheep-A Review

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs) can be a major constraint and global challenge to the sheep industry. These nematodes infect the small intestine and abomasum of grazing sheep, causing symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhea, hypoproteinemia, and anemia, which can lead to death. The use of anthelmintics to treat infected animals has led to GIN resistance, and excessive use of these drugs has resulted in residue traced in food and the environment. Resistance to GINs can be measured using multiple traits, including fecal egg count (FEC), Faffa Malan Chart scores, hematocrit, packed cell volume, eosinophilia, immunoglobulin (Ig), and dagginess scores. Genetic variation among animals exists, and understanding these differences can help identify genomic regions associated with resistance to GINs in sheep. Genes playing important roles in the immune system were identified in several studies in this review, such as the CFI and MUC15 genes. Results from several studies showed overlapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with multiple traits measuring resistance to GINs, mainly FEC. The discovery of genomic regions, positional candidate genes, and QTLs associated with resistance to GINs can help increase and accelerate genetic gains in sheep breeding programs and reveal the genetic basis and biological mechanisms underlying this trait.

Positioning SUMO as an immunological facilitator of oncolytic viruses for high-grade glioma

Oncolytic viral (OV) therapies are promising novel treatment modalities for cancers refractory to conventional treatment, such as glioblastoma, within the central nervous system (CNS). Although OVs have received regulatory approval for use in the CNS, efficacy is hampered by obstacles related to delivery, under-/over-active immune responses, and the "immune-cold" nature of most CNS malignancies. SUMO, the Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier, is a family of proteins that serve as a high-level regulator of a large variety of key physiologic processes including the host immune response. The SUMO pathway has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of both wild-type viruses and CNS malignancies. As such, the intersection of OV biology with the SUMO pathway makes SUMOtherapeutics particularly interesting as adjuvant therapies for the enhancement of OV efficacy alone and in concert with other immunotherapeutic agents. Accordingly, the authors herein provide: 1) an overview of the SUMO pathway and its role in CNS malignancies; 2) describe the current state of CNS-targeted OVs; and 3) describe the interplay between the SUMO pathway and the viral lifecycle and host immune response.

Silencing ApoC3 alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury by inhibiting TLR signaling pathway

This study aims to confirm whether apolipoprotein C3 (ApoC3) can regulate the inflammatory response and tissue damage in acute lung injury (ALI) and explore its regulatory pathway. ALI mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). ApoC3 levels were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and western blot assays. The levels of various inflammatory factors were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot analysis. Finally, the expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway-related protein [TLR2, myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88), IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1), NF-κB p65, and inhibitor of kappa B alpha (IκBα)], SLP adaptor and CSK interacting membrane protein (SCIMP), spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), and phosphorylated (p)-Syk was detected by western blot analysis. ApoC3 was overexpressed in ALI mouse lung tissue and cell inflammation model. Silencing ApoC3 reduced inflammatory factors and alleviated lung tissue damage in ALI mice. Silencing ApoC3 reduced inflammatory factors and downregulated the expression of TLR2, MyD88, IRAK1, NF-κB p65, and increased IκBα expression in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, co-transfection of si-TLR2 and shApoC3 further enhanced the inhibitory effects on the levels of inflammatory factors induced by silencing ApoC3. ApoC3 overexpression increased the levels of inflammatory factors and protein expression of SCIMP and p-Syk, while silencing TLR2 reversed the promotive effects of ApoC3 overexpression on above factors. In LPS-induced ALI mouse model and inflammatory cell model, downregulation of ApoC3 reduced inflammatory factors and relieved tissue damage. This process might be achieved through the TLR pathway.

The emerging roles of SUMOylation in the tumor microenvironment and therapeutic implications

Tumor initiation, progression, and response to therapies depend to a great extent on interactions between malignant cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME), which denotes the cancerous/non-cancerous cells, cytokines, chemokines, and various other factors around tumors. Cancer cells as well as stroma cells can not only obtain adaption to the TME but also sculpt their microenvironment through a series of signaling pathways. The post-translational modification (PTM) of eukaryotic cells by small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) proteins is now recognized as a key flexible pathway. Proteins involved in tumorigenesis guiding several biological processes including chromatin organization, DNA repair, transcription, protein trafficking, and signal conduction rely on SUMOylation. The purpose of this review is to explore the role that SUMOylation plays in the TME formation and reprogramming, emphasize the importance of targeting SUMOylation to intervene in the TME and discuss the potential of SUMOylation inhibitors (SUMOi) in ameliorating tumor prognosis.

SENP3-mediated deSUMOylation of c-Jun facilitates microglia-induced neuroinflammation after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury

Recent evidences have implicated that SENP3 is a deSUMOylase which possesses neuronal damage effects in cerebral ischemia. However, its role in microglia remains poorly understood. Here, we found that SENP3 was upregulated in the peri-infarct areas of mice following ischemic stroke. Furthermore, knockdown of SENP3 significantly inhibits the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in microglial cells. Mechanistically, SENP3 can bind and then mediated the deSUMOylation of c-Jun, which activated its transcriptional activity, ultimately followed by the activation of MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathway. In addition, microglia-specific SENP3 knockdown alleviated ischemia-induced neuronal damage, and markedly diminished infract volume, ameliorated sensorimotor and cognitive function in animals subjected to ischemic stroke. These results indicated SENP3 functions as a novel regulator of microglia-induced neuroinflammation by activating the MAPK/AP-1 signaling pathway via mediating the deSUMOylation of c-Jun. Interventions of SENP3 expression or its interaction with c-Jun would be a new and promising therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke.

SENP6 induces microglial polarization and neuroinflammation through de-SUMOylation of Annexin-A1 after cerebral ischaemia–reperfusion injury

Background

Previous data have reported that Sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 6 (SENP6) is involved in ischaemic brain injury and induces neuronal apoptosis after cerebral ischaemia, but the role of SENP6 in microglia-induced neuroinflammation and its underlying mechanism remain poorly understood. This research systematically explored the function and potential mechanism of SENP6 in microglia-induced neuroinflammation after ischaemic stroke.

Results

We first identified an increased protein level of SENP6 in microglia after cerebral ischaemia. Then, we demonstrated that SENP6 promoted detrimental microglial phenotype polarization. Specifically, SENP6-mediated de-SUMOylation of ANXA1 targeted the IκB kinase (IKK) complex and selectively inhibited the autophagic degradation of IKKα in an NBR1-dependent manner, activating the NF-κB pathway and enhancing proinflammatory cytokine expression. In addition, downregulation of SENP6 in microglia effectively reduced cocultured neuronal damage induced by ischaemic stroke. More importantly, we employed an AAV-based technique to specifically knockdown SENP6 in microglia/macrophages, and in vivo experiments showed that SENP6 inhibition in microglia/macrophages notably lessened brain ischaemic infarct size, decreased neurological deficit scores, and ameliorated motor and cognitive function in mice subjected to cerebral ischaemia surgery.

Conclusion

We demonstrated a previously unidentified mechanism by which SENP6-mediated ANXA1 de-SUMOylation regulates microglial polarization and our results strongly indicated that in microglia, inhibition of SENP6 may be a crucial beneficial therapeutic strategy for ischaemic stroke.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00850-2.

Fast friends - Ubiquitin-like modifiers as engineered fusion partners

Ubiquitin and its relatives are major players in many biological pathways, and a variety of experimental tools based on biological chemistry or protein engineering is available for their manipulation. One popular approach is the use of linear fusions between the modifier and a protein of interest. Such artificial constructs can facilitate the understanding of the role of ubiquitin in biological processes and can be exploited to control protein stability, interactions and degradation. Here we summarize the basic design considerations and discuss the advantages as well as limitations associated with their use. Finally, we will refer to several published case studies highlighting the principles of how they provide insight into pathways ranging from membrane protein trafficking to the control of epigenetic modifications.

The subversion of toll-like receptor signaling by bacterial and viral proteases during the development of infectious diseases

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that respond to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The recognition of specific microbial ligands by TLRs triggers an innate immune response and also promotes adaptive immunity, which is necessary for the efficient elimination of invading pathogens. Successful pathogens have therefore evolved strategies to subvert and/or manipulate TLR signaling. Both the impairment and uncontrolled activation of TLR signaling can harm the host, causing tissue destruction and allowing pathogens to proliferate, thus favoring disease progression. In this context, microbial proteases are key virulence factors that modify components of the TLR signaling pathway. In this review, we discuss the role of bacterial and viral proteases in the manipulation of TLR signaling, highlighting the importance of these enzymes during the development of infectious diseases.

Natural Products Against Renal Fibrosis via Modulation of SUMOylation

Renal fibrosis is the common and final pathological process of kidney diseases. As a dynamic and reversible post-translational modification, SUMOylation and deSUMOylation of transcriptional factors and key mediators significantly affect the development of renal fibrosis. Recent advances suggest that SUMOylation functions as the promising intervening target against renal fibrosis, and natural products prevent renal fibrosis via modulating SUMOylation. Here, we introduce the mechanism of SUMOylation in renal fibrosis and therapeutic effects of natural products. This process starts by summarizing the key mediators and enzymes during SUMOylation and deSUMOylation and its regulation role in transcriptional factors and key mediators in renal fibrosis, then linking the mechanism findings of SUMOylation and natural products to develop novel therapeutic candidates for treating renal fibrosis, and concludes by commenting on promising therapeutic targets and candidate natural products in renal fibrosis via modulating SUMOylation, which highlights modulating SUMOylation as a promising strategy for natural products against renal fibrosis.

SUMOylation in Viral Replication and Antiviral Defense

SUMOylation is a ubiquitination-like post-translational modification that plays an essential role in the regulation of protein function. Recent studies have shown that proteins from both RNA and DNA virus families can be modified by SUMO conjugation, which facilitates viral replication. Viruses can manipulate the entire process of SUMOylation through interplay with the SUMO pathway. By contrast, SUMOylation can eliminate viral infection by regulating host antiviral immune components. A deeper understanding of how SUMOylation regulates viral proteins and cellular antiviral components is necessary for the development of effective antiviral therapies. In the present review, the regulatory mechanism of SUMOylation in viral replication and infection and the antiviral immune response, and the consequences of this regulation for viral replication and engagement with antiviral innate immunity are summarized. The potential therapeutic applications of SUMOylation in diseases caused by viruses are also discussed.

SARS-CoV-2 Nsp5 Activates NF-κB Pathway by Upregulating SUMOylation of MAVS

The COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. A large number of clinical studies found high-level expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, which fuels the rapid development of the disease. However, the specific molecular mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we found that SARS-CoV-2 Nsp5 can induce the expression of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-2 in Calu-3 and THP1 cells. Further research found that Nsp5 enhances cytokine expression through activating the NF-κB signaling pathway. Subsequently, we investigated the upstream effectors of the NF-κB signal pathway on Nsp5 overexpression and discovered that Nsp5 increases the protein level of MAVS. Moreover, Nsp5 can promote the SUMOylation of MAVS to increase its stability and lead to increasing levels of MAVS protein, finally triggering activation of NF-κB signaling. The knockdown of MAVS and the inhibitor of SUMOylation treatment can attenuate Nsp5-mediated NF-κB activation and cytokine induction. We identified a novel role of SARS-CoV-2 Nsp5 to enhance cytokine production by activating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Therapeutic Potential of Targeting the SUMO Pathway in Cancer

SUMOylation is a dynamic and reversible post-translational modification, characterized more than 20 years ago, that regulates protein function at multiple levels. Key oncoproteins and tumor suppressors are SUMO substrates. In addition to alterations in SUMO pathway activity due to conditions typically present in cancer, such as hypoxia, the SUMO machinery components are deregulated at the genomic level in cancer. The delicate balance between SUMOylation and deSUMOylation is regulated by SENP enzymes possessing SUMO-deconjugation activity. Dysregulation of SUMO machinery components can disrupt the balance of SUMOylation, contributing to the tumorigenesis and drug resistance of various cancers in a context-dependent manner. Many molecular mechanisms relevant to the pathogenesis of specific cancers involve SUMO, highlighting the potential relevance of SUMO machinery components as therapeutic targets. Recent advances in the development of inhibitors targeting SUMOylation and deSUMOylation permit evaluation of the therapeutic potential of targeting the SUMO pathway in cancer. Finally, the first drug inhibiting SUMO pathway, TAK-981, is currently also being evaluated in clinical trials in cancer patients. Intriguingly, the inhibition of SUMOylation may also have the potential to activate the anti-tumor immune response. Here, we comprehensively and systematically review the recent developments in understanding the role of SUMOylation in cancer and specifically focus on elaborating the scientific rationale of targeting the SUMO pathway in different cancers.

Viruses, SUMO, and immunity: the interplay between viruses and the host SUMOylation system

The conjugation of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins to substrates is a well-described post-translational modification that regulates protein activity, subcellular localization, and protein-protein interactions for a variety of downstream cellular activities. Several studies describe SUMOylation as an essential post-translational modification for successful viral infection across a broad range of viruses, including RNA and DNA viruses, both enveloped and un-enveloped. These viruses include but are not limited to herpes viruses, human immunodeficiency virus-1, and coronaviruses. In addition to the SUMOylation of viral proteins during infection, evidence shows that viruses manipulate the SUMO pathway for host protein SUMOylation. SUMOylation of host and viral proteins greatly impacts host innate immunity through viral manipulation of the host SUMOylation machinery to promote viral replication and pathogenesis. Other post-translational modifications like phosphorylation can also modulate SUMO function. For example, phosphorylation of COUP-TF interacting protein 2 (CTIP2) leads to its SUMOylation and subsequent proteasomal degradation. The SUMOylation of CTIP2 and subsequent degradation prevents CTIP2-mediated recruitment of a multi-enzymatic complex to the HIV-1 promoter that usually prevents the transcription of integrated viral DNA. Thus, the "SUMO switch" could have implications for CTIP2-mediated transcriptional repression of HIV-1 in latency and viral persistence. In this review, we describe the consequences of SUMO in innate immunity and then focus on the various ways that viral pathogens have evolved to hijack the conserved SUMO machinery. Increased understanding of the many roles of SUMOylation in viral infections can lead to novel insight into the regulation of viral pathogenesis with the potential to uncover new targets for antiviral therapies.

SUMO and SUMOylation Pathway at the Forefront of Host Immune Response

Pathogens pose a continuous challenge for the survival of the host species. In response to the pathogens, the host immune system mounts orchestrated defense responses initiating various mechanisms both at the cellular and molecular levels, including multiple post-translational modifications (PTMs) leading to the initiation of signaling pathways. The network of such pathways results in the recruitment of various innate immune components and cells at the site of infection and activation of the adaptive immune cells, which work in synergy to combat the pathogens. Ubiquitination is one of the most commonly used PTMs. Host cells utilize ubiquitination for both temporal and spatial regulation of immune response pathways. Over the last decade, ubiquitin family proteins, particularly small ubiquitin-related modifiers (SUMO), have been widely implicated in host immune response. SUMOs are ubiquitin-like (Ubl) proteins transiently conjugated to a wide variety of proteins through SUMOylation. SUMOs primarily exert their effect on target proteins by covalently modifying them. However, SUMO also engages in a non-covalent interaction with the SUMO-interacting motif (SIM) in target proteins. Unlike ubiquitination, SUMOylation alters localization, interactions, functions, or stability of target proteins. This review provides an overview of the interplay of SUMOylation and immune signaling and development pathways in general. Additionally, we discuss in detail the regulation exerted by covalent SUMO modifications of target proteins, and SIM mediated non-covalent interactions with several effector proteins. In addition, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature on the importance of the SUMO pathway in the development and maintenance of a robust immune system network of the host. We also summarize how pathogens modulate the host SUMO cycle to sustain infectability. Studies dealing mainly with SUMO pathway proteins in the immune system are still in infancy. We anticipate that the field will see a thorough and more directed analysis of the SUMO pathway in regulating different cells and pathways of the immune system. Our current understanding of the importance of the SUMO pathway in the immune system necessitates an urgent need to synthesize specific inhibitors, bioactive regulatory molecules, as novel therapeutic targets.

Inhibition of SENP6 restrains cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by regulating Annexin-A1 nuclear translocation-associated neuronal apoptosis

Rationale: Annexin-A1 (ANXA1) has previously been proposed to play a crucial role in neuronal apoptosis during ischemic stroke injury. Our recent study demonstrated that ANXA1 was modified by SUMOylation, and that this modification was greatly weakened after cerebral ischemia, but its effect on neuronal death and the underlying mechanism have not been fully elucidated. Methods: Mice subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion were established as the animal model and primary cultured neurons treated with oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion was established as the cell model of ischemic stroke. The Ni²⁺-NTA agarose affinity pull-down assay was carried out to determine the SUMOylation level of ANXA1. Co-immunoprecipitation assays was utilized to explore the protein interaction. Immunoblot analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, Luciferase reporter assay were performed to identify the regulatory mechanism. LDH release and TUNEL staining was performed to investigate the neuronal cytotoxicity and apoptosis, respectively. Results: In this study, we identified the deSUMOylating enzyme sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 6 (SENP6) as a negative regulator of ANXA1 SUMOylation. Notably, we found that SENP6-mediated deSUMOylation of ANXA1 induced its nuclear translocation and triggered neuronal apoptosis during cerebral ischemic injury. A mechanistic study demonstrated that SENP6-mediated deSUMOylation of ANXA1 promoted TRPM7- and PKC-dependent phosphorylation of ANXA1. Furthermore, blocking the deSUMOylation of ANXA1 mediated by SENP6 inhibited the transcriptional activity of p53, decreased Bid expression, suppressed caspase-3 pathway activation and reduced the apoptosis of primary neurons subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion. More importantly, SENP6 inhibition by overexpression of a SENP6 catalytic mutant in neurons resulted in significant improvement in neurological function in the mouse model of ischemic stroke. Conclusions: Taken together, the results of this study identified a previously unidentified function of SENP6 in neuronal apoptosis and strongly indicated that SENP6 inhibition may provide therapeutic benefits for cerebral ischemia.

An Overview of the Posttranslational Modifications and Related Molecular Mechanisms in Diabetic Nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a common diabetic microvascular complication, is characterized by its complex pathogenesis, higher risk of mortality, and the lack of effective diagnosis and treatment methods. Many studies focus on the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) and have reported that the pathophysiology of DN is very complex, involving many molecules and abnormal cellular activities. Given the respective pivotal roles of NF-κB, Nrf2, and TGF-β in inflammation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis during DN, we first review the effect of posttranslational modifications on these vital molecules in DN. Then, we describe the relationship between these molecules and related abnormal cellular activities in DN. Finally, we discuss some potential directions for DN treatment and diagnosis. The information reviewed here may be significant in the design of further studies to identify valuable therapeutic targets for DN.

SENP3 loss promotes M2 macrophage polarization and breast cancer progression

Tumor‐associated macrophages (TAM) play a crucial role in promoting cancer progression. Upon cytokine stimulation, TAM preferentially polarize to the anti‐inflammatory and pro‐tumor M2 subtype. The mechanism underlying such preferential polarization remains elusive. Here, we report that macrophage‐specific deletion of the SUMO‐specific protease Sentrin/SUMO‐specific protease 3 promotes macrophage polarization towards M2 in bone marrow‐derived macrophage (BMDM) induced by interleukin 4 (IL‐4)/IL‐13 and in an ex vivo model (murine Py8119 cell line), as well as in a mouse orthotopic tumor model. Notably, Sentrin/SUMO‐specific protease 3 (SENP3) loss in macrophages accelerated breast cancer malignancy in ex vivo and in vivo models. Mechanistically, we identified Akt Serine/threonine kinase 1 (Akt1) as the substrate of SENP3 and found that the enhanced Akt1 SUMOylation upon SENP3 loss resulted in Akt1 hyper‐phosphorylation and activation, which facilitates M2 polarization. Analysis of clinical data showed that a lower level of SENP3 in TAM has a strong negative correlation with the level of the M2 marker CD206, as well as with a worse clinical outcome. Thus, increased Akt1 SUMOylation as a result of SENP3 deficiency modulates polarization of macrophages to the M2 subtype within a breast cancer microenvironment, which in turn promotes tumor progression.

SUMOylation Connects Cell Stress Responses and Inflammatory Control: Lessons From the Gut as a Model Organ

Conjugation with the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) constitutes a key post-translational modification regulating the stability, activity, and subcellular localization of its target proteins. However, the vast numbers of identified SUMO substrates obscure a clear view on the function of SUMOylation in health and disease. This article presents a comprehensive review on the physiological relevance of SUMOylation by discussing how global SUMOylation levels—rather than specific protein SUMOylation—shapes the immune response. In particular, we highlight the growing body of work on SUMOylation in intestinal pathologies, because of the unique metabolic, infectious, and inflammatory challenges of this organ. Recent studies show that global SUMOylation can help restrain detrimental inflammation while maintaining immune defenses and tissue integrity. These results warrant further efforts to develop new therapeutic tools and strategies to control SUMOylation in infectious and inflammatory disorders.

The Function of SUMOylation and Its Role in the Development of Cancer Cells under Stress Conditions: A Systematic Review

Malignant tumors still pose serious threats to human health due to their high morbidity and mortality. Recurrence and metastasis are the most important factors affecting patient prognosis. Chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation used to treat these tumors mainly interfere with tumor metabolism, destroy DNA integrity, and inhibit protein synthesis. The upregulation of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) is a prevalent posttranslational modification (PTM) in various cancers and plays a critical role in tumor development. The dysregulation of SUMOylation can protect cancer cells from stresses exerted by external or internal stimuli. SUMOylation is a dynamic process finely regulated by SUMOylation enzymes and proteases to maintain a balance between SUMOylation and deSUMOylation. An increasing number of studies have reported that SUMOylation imbalance may contribute to cancer development, including metastasis, angiogenesis, invasion, and proliferation. High level of SUMOylation is required for cancer cells to survive internal or external stresses. Downregulation of SUMOylation may inhibit the development of cancer, making it an important potential clinical therapeutic target. Some studies have already begun to treat tumors by inhibiting the expression of SUMOylation family members, including SUMO E1 or E2. The tumor cells become more aggressive under internal and external stresses. The prevention of tumor development, metastasis, recurrence, and radiochemotherapy resistance by attenuating SUMOylation requires further exploration. This review focused on SUMOylation in tumor cells to discuss its effects on tumor suppressor proteins and oncoproteins as well as classical tumor pathways to identify new insights for cancer clinical therapy.

Toll-like receptors in sepsis-associated cytokine storm and their endogenous negative regulators as future immunomodulatory targets

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Sepsis infects more than 48.9 million people world-wide, with 19.7 million deaths.

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Cytokine storm plays a significant role in sepsis, along with severe COVID-19.

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TLR signaling pathways plays a crucial role in generating the cytokine storm.

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Endogenous negative regulators of TLR signaling are crucial to regulate cytokine storm.

Cytokine storm generates during various systemic acute infections, including sepsis and current pandemic called COVID-19 (severe) causing devastating inflammatory conditions, which include multi-organ failure or multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and death of the patient. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are one of the major pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) expressed by immune cells as well as non-immune cells, including neurons, which play a crucial role in generating cytokine storm. They recognize microbial-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs, expressed by pathogens) and damage or death-associate molecular patterns (DAMPs; released and/expressed by damaged/killed host cells). Upon recognition of MAMPs and DAMPs, TLRs activate downstream signaling pathways releasing several pro-inflammatory mediators [cytokines, chemokines, interferons, and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS or RNS)], which cause acute inflammation meant to control the pathogen and repair the damage. Induction of an exaggerated response due to genetic makeup of the host and/or persistence of the pathogen due to its evasion mechanisms may lead to severe systemic inflammatory condition called sepsis in response to the generation of cytokine storm and organ dysfunction. The activation of TLR-induced inflammatory response is hardwired to the induction of several negative feedback mechanisms that come into play to conclude the response and maintain immune homeostasis. This state-of-the-art review describes the importance of TLR signaling in the onset of the sepsis-associated cytokine storm and discusses various host-derived endogenous negative regulators of TLR signaling pathways. The subject is very important as there is a vast array of genes and processes implicated in these negative feedback mechanisms. These molecules and mechanisms can be targeted for developing novel therapeutic drugs for cytokine storm-associated diseases, including sepsis, severe COVID-19, and other inflammatory diseases, where TLR-signaling plays a significant role.

Klebsiella pneumoniae Reduces SUMOylation To Limit Host Defense Responses

Klebsiella pneumoniae has been singled out as an urgent threat to human health due to the increasing isolation of strains resistant to “last-line” antimicrobials, narrowing the treatment options against Klebsiella infections. Unfortunately, at present, we cannot identify candidate compounds in late-stage development for treatment of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella infections; this pathogen is exemplary of the mismatch between unmet medical needs and the current antimicrobial research and development pipeline. Furthermore, there is still limited evidence on K. pneumoniae pathogenesis at the molecular and cellular levels in the context of the interactions between bacterial pathogens and their hosts. In this research, we have uncovered a sophisticated strategy employed by Klebsiella to subvert the activation of immune defenses by controlling the modification of proteins. Our research may open opportunities to develop new therapeutics based on counteracting this Klebsiella-controlled immune evasion strategy.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important cause of multidrug-resistant infections worldwide. Understanding the virulence mechanisms of K. pneumoniae is a priority and timely to design new therapeutics. Here, we demonstrate that K. pneumoniae limits the SUMOylation of host proteins in epithelial cells and macrophages (mouse and human) to subvert cell innate immunity. Mechanistically, in lung epithelial cells, Klebsiella increases the levels of the deSUMOylase SENP2 in the cytosol by affecting its K48 ubiquitylation and its subsequent degradation by the ubiquitin proteasome. This is dependent on Klebsiella preventing the NEDDylation of the Cullin-1 subunit of the ubiquitin ligase complex E3-SCF-βTrCP by exploiting the CSN5 deNEDDylase. Klebsiella induces the expression of CSN5 in an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) signaling pathway-dependent manner. In macrophages, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-TRAM-TRIF-induced type I interferon (IFN) via IFN receptor 1 (IFNAR1)-controlled signaling mediates Klebsiella-triggered decrease in the levels of SUMOylation via let-7 microRNAs (miRNAs). Our results revealed the crucial role played by Klebsiella polysaccharides, the capsule, and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-polysaccharide, to decrease the levels of SUMO-conjugated proteins in epithelial cells and macrophages. A Klebsiella-induced decrease in SUMOylation promotes infection by limiting the activation of inflammatory responses and increasing intracellular survival in macrophages.

A Chain of Events: Regulating Target Proteins by SUMO Polymers

Small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMOs) regulate virtually all nuclear processes. The fate of the target protein is determined by the architecture of the attached SUMO protein, which can be of polymeric nature. Here, we highlight the multifunctional aspects of dynamic signal transduction by SUMO polymers. The SUMO-targeted ubiquitin ligases (STUbLs) RING-finger protein 4 (RNF4) and RNF111 recognize SUMO polymers in a chain-architecture-dependent manner, leading to the formation of hybrid chains, which could enable proteasomal destruction of proteins. Recent publications have highlighted essential roles for SUMO chain disassembly by the mammalian SUMO proteases SENP6 and SENP7 and the yeast SUMO protease Ulp2. SENP6 is particularly important for centromere assembly. These recent findings demonstrate the diversity of SUMO polymer signal transduction for proteolytic and nonproteolytic purposes.

Gene Expression Profiling of Corpus luteum Reveals Important Insights about Early Pregnancy in Domestic Sheep

The majority of pregnancy loss in ruminants occurs during the preimplantation stage, which is thus the most critical period determining reproductive success. Here, we performed a comparative transcriptome study by sequencing total mRNA from corpus luteum (CL) collected during the preimplantation stage of pregnancy in Finnsheep, Texel and F1 crosses. A total of 21,287 genes were expressed in our data. Highly expressed autosomal genes in the CL were associated with biological processes such as progesterone formation (STAR, CYP11A1, and HSD3B1) and embryo implantation (e.g., TIMP1, TIMP2 and TCTP). Among the list of differentially expressed genes, sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin (Ig)-like lectins (SIGLEC3, SIGLEC14, SIGLEC8), ribosomal proteins (RPL17, RPL34, RPS3A, MRPS33) and chemokines (CCL5, CCL24, CXCL13, CXCL9) were upregulated in Finnsheep, while four multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) were upregulated in Texel ewes. A total of 17 known genes and two uncharacterized non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) were differentially expressed in breed-wise comparisons owing to the flushing diet effect. The significantly upregulated TXNL1 gene indicated potential for embryonic diapause in Finnsheep and F1. Moreover, we report, for the first time in any species, several genes that are active in the CL during early pregnancy (including TXNL1, SIGLEC14, SIGLEC8, MRP4, and CA5A).

SUMOylation in development and neurodegeneration

In essentially all eukaryotes, proteins can be modified by the attachment of small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) proteins to lysine side chains to produce branched proteins. This process of 'SUMOylation' plays essential roles in plant and animal development by altering protein function in spatially and temporally controlled ways. In this Primer, we explain the process of SUMOylation and summarize how SUMOylation regulates a number of signal transduction pathways. Next, we discuss multiple roles of SUMOylation in the epigenetic control of transcription. In addition, we evaluate the role of SUMOylation in the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders, focusing on Parkinson's disease and cerebral ischemia. Finally, we discuss the possibility that SUMOylation may stimulate survival and neurogenesis of neuronal stem cells.

Genetic screening identifies a SUMO protease dynamically maintaining centromeric chromatin

Centromeres are defined by a self-propagating chromatin structure based on stable inheritance of CENP-A containing nucleosomes. Here, we present a genetic screen coupled to pulse-chase labeling that allow us to identify proteins selectively involved in deposition of nascent CENP-A or in long-term transmission of chromatin-bound CENP-A. These include factors with known roles in DNA replication, repair, chromatin modification, and transcription, revealing a broad set of chromatin regulators that impact on CENP-A dynamics. We further identify the SUMO-protease SENP6 as a key factor, not only controlling CENP-A stability but virtually the entire centromere and kinetochore. Loss of SENP6 results in hyper-SUMOylation of CENP-C and CENP-I but not CENP-A itself. SENP6 activity is required throughout the cell cycle, suggesting that a dynamic SUMO cycle underlies a continuous surveillance of the centromere complex that in turn ensures stable transmission of CENP-A chromatin.

SUMO and Cytoplasmic RNA Viruses: From Enemies to Best Friends

SUMO is a ubiquitin-like protein that covalently binds to lysine residues of target proteins and regulates many biological processes such as protein subcellular localization or stability, transcription, DNA repair, innate immunity, or antiviral defense. SUMO has a critical role in the signaling pathway governing type I interferon (IFN) production, and among the SUMOylation substrates are many IFN-induced proteins. The overall effect of IFN is increasing global SUMOylation, pointing to SUMO as part of the antiviral stress response. Viral agents have developed different mechanisms to counteract the antiviral activities exerted by SUMO, and some viruses have evolved to exploit the host SUMOylation machinery to modify their own proteins. The exploitation of SUMO has been mainly linked to nuclear replicating viruses due to the predominant nuclear localization of SUMO proteins and enzymes involved in SUMOylation. However, SUMOylation of numerous viral proteins encoded by RNA viruses replicating at the cytoplasm has been lately described. Whether nuclear localization of these viral proteins is required for their SUMOylation is unclear. Here, we summarize the studies on exploitation of SUMOylation by cytoplasmic RNA viruses and discuss about the requirement for nuclear localization of their proteins.

Ethanol Exposure Induces Microglia Activation and Neuroinflammation through TLR4 Activation and SENP6 Modulation in the Adolescent Rat Hippocampus

The ethanol-induced toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signal activation of microglia and neuroinflammation are observed in both adolescent and adult rat brains, but the regulatory mechanisms of some TLR4 signaling-related factors in this process are still unclear. SUMO-specific protease 6 (SENP6) inhibits neuroinflammation by dampening nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) activation via the de-SUMOylation of NF kappa-B essential modulator (NEMO). This study investigates the effects of long-term ethanol consumption on neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of adolescent rats and the regulatory roles of TLR4 and SENP6. Twenty-one days of ethanol exposure in adolescent rats were used to develop an animal model. The number of microglia, microglial activation, and the expression of TLR4 in the hippocampus of adolescent rats were examined by immunoreactivity. The levels of TLR4, activation of NF-κB including IkB-α and p-NF-κB-p65, and SENP6 were measured by western blotting. Proinflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The NF-κB activation and proinflammatory cytokines released in overexpressed SENP6 and siRNA targeting SENP6 microglial cells after treatment with ethanol were estimated in vitro. This study found that alcohol exposure increased the number of activated microglia and the levels of p-NF-κB-p65 and proinflammatory cytokines, while it decreased the SENP6 level in wild-type rats, but not in TLR4 knockout rats. The ethanol-induced increases of p-NF-κB-p65, TNF-α, and IL-1β were dampened by overxpression of SENP6 and enhanced in SENP6-siRNA microglia. Our data suggest that ethanol exposure during adolescence induces the microglia-mediated neuroinflammation via TLR4 activation, and SENP6 plays an essential role in dampening NF-κB activation and neuroinflammation.

Progress of small ubiquitin-related modifiers in kidney diseases

Objective:

Small ubiquitin-related modifiers (SUMOs) are a group of post-translational modification proteins extensively expressed in eukaryotes. Abnormal SUMOylation can lead to the development of various diseases. This article summarizes the progress on research of the role of SUMOs in various types of kidney diseases to further increase the understanding of the regulatory functions of SUMOylation in the pathogenesis of kidney diseases.

Data sources:

This review was based on articles published in the PubMed databases up to January 2018, using the keywords including “SUMOs,” “SUMOylation,” and “kidney diseases.”

Study selection:

Original articles and critical reviews about SUMOs and kidney disease were selected for this review. A total of 50 studies were in English.

Results:

SUMO participates in the activation of NF-κB inflammatory signaling pathway, playing a central regulatory role in the inflammation and progression of DN, and the secretion of various chemokines in AKI. SUMO involves in the regulation of TG2 and Nrf2 antioxidant stress, affecting renal tubular injury in AKI. SUMO affects the MAPK/ERK pathway, regulating intracellular signal transduction, modulating the transcription and expression of effector molecules in DN. SUMO contributes to the TGF-β/Smad pathway, leading to fibrosis of the kidney. The conjugate combination of SUMO and p53 regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis, and participates in the regulation of tumorigenesis. In addition, SUMOylation of MITF modulates renal tumors secondary to melanoma, Similarly, SUMOylation of tumor suppressor gene VHL regulates the occurrence of renal cell carcinoma in VHL syndrome.

Conclusions:

Tissue injury, inflammatory responses, fibrosis, apoptosis, and tumor proliferation in kidney diseases all involve SUMOs. Further research of the substrate SUMOylation and regulatory mechanisms of SUMO in kidney diseases will improve and develop new treatment measures and strategies targeting kidney diseases.

Unique Polypharmacology Nuclear Receptor Modulator Blocks Inflammatory Signaling Pathways

Obesity and rheumatic disease are mechanistically linked via chronic inflammation. The orphan receptor TREM-1 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1) is a potent amplifier of proinflammatory and noninfectious immune responses. Here, we show that the pan modulator SR1903 effectively blocks TREM-1 activation. SR1903 emerged from a chemical series of potent RORγ inverse agonists, although unlike close structural analogues, it has modest agonist activity on LXR and weak repressive activity (inverse agonism) of PPARγ, three receptors that play essential roles in inflammation and metabolism. The anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic efficacy of this unique modulator in collagen-induced arthritis and diet-induced obesity mouse models is demonstrated. Interestingly, in the context of obesity, SR1903 aided in the maintenance of the thymic homeostasis unlike selective RORγ inverse agonists. SR1903 was well-tolerated following chronic administration, and combined, these data suggest that it may represent a viable strategy for treatment of both metabolic and inflammatory disease. More importantly, the ability of SR1903 to block LPS signaling suggests the potential utility of this unique polypharmacological modulator for treatment of innate immune response disorders.

Noncovalent structure of SENP1 in complex with SUMO2

SUMOylation is a post-translational modification in which a small ubiquitin-like molecule (SUMO) is appended to substrate proteins and is known to influence myriads of biological processes. A delicate interplay between several families of SUMOylation proteins and their substrates ensures the proper level of SUMOylation required for normal cell function. Among the SUMO proteins, SUMO2 is known to form mono-SUMOylated proteins and engage in poly-SUMO chain formation, while sentrin-specific protease 1 (SENP1) is a key enzyme in regulating both events. Determination of the SENP1-SUMO2 interaction is therefore necessary to better understand SUMOylation. In this regard, the current paper reports the noncovalent structure of SENP1 in complex with SUMO2, which was refined to a resolution of 2.62 Å with R and Rfree values of 22.92% and 27.66%, respectively. The structure shows that SENP1-SUMO2 complex formation is driven largely by polar interactions and limited hydrophobic contacts. The essential C-terminal motif (QQTGG) of SUMO2 is stabilized by a number of specific bonding interactions that enable it to protrude into the catalytic triad of SENP1 and provide the arrangement necessary for maturation of SUMO and deSUMOylation activity. Overall, the structure shows a number of structural details that pinpoint the basis of SENP1-SUMO2 complex formation.

Natural cyclopeptide RA-V inhibits the NF-κB signaling pathway by targeting TAK1

Rubiaceae-type cyclopeptides (RAs) are a type of plant cyclopeptides from the Rubia that have garnered significant attention owing to their unique bicyclic structures and amazing antitumour activities. Our recent work has shown that RAs suppress inflammation and angiogenesis and induce apoptosis. However, the underlying mechanism and targets remained unknown. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway plays a critical role in these biological processes, prompting us to investigate whether and how RAs affect this pathway. By screening compound libraries using NF-κB-dependent luciferase reporter, we observed that RA-V is the best NF-κB inhibitor. Further experiments demonstrated that RA-V interrupted the TAK1-TAB2 interaction and targeted TAK1 in this pathway. Moreover, RA-V prevented endotoxin shock and inhibited NF-κB activation and tumor growth in vivo. These findings clarify the mechanism of RA-V on NF-κB pathway and might account for the majority of known bioactivities of RA-V, which will help RA-V develop as new antiinflammatory and antitumour therapies.

Viruses Seen by Our Cells: The Role of Viral RNA Sensors

The role of the innate immune response in detecting RNA viruses is crucial for the establishment of proper inflammatory and antiviral responses. Different receptors, known as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), are present in the cytoplasm, endosomes, and on the cellular surface. These receptors have the capacity to sense the presence of viral nucleic acids as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). This recognition leads to the induction of type 1 interferons (IFNs) as well as inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. In this review, we provide an overview of the significant involvement of cellular RNA helicases and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 3, 7, and 8 in antiviral immune defenses.

SUMO-specific proteases and isopeptidases of the SENP family at a glance

The ubiquitin-related SUMO system controls many cellular signaling networks. In mammalian cells, three SUMO forms (SUMO1, SUMO2 and SUMO3) act as covalent modifiers of up to thousands of cellular proteins. SUMO conjugation affects cell function mainly by regulating the plasticity of protein networks. Importantly, the modification is reversible and highly dynamic. Cysteine proteases of the sentrin-specific protease (SENP) family reverse SUMO conjugation in mammalian cells. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we will summarize how the six members of the mammalian SENP family orchestrate multifaceted deconjugation events to coordinate cell processes, such as gene expression, the DNA damage response and inflammation.

DeSUMOylation of MKK7 kinase by the SUMO2/3 protease SENP3 potentiates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory signaling in macrophages

Protein SUMOylation has been reported to play a role in innate immune response, but the enzymes, substrates, and consequences of the specific inflammatory signaling events are largely unknown. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are abundantly produced during macrophage activation and required for Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated inflammatory signaling. Previously, we demonstrated that SENP3 is a redox-sensitive SUMO2/3 protease. To explore any links between reversible SUMOylation and ROS-related inflammatory signaling in macrophage activation, we generated mice with Senp3 conditional knock-out in myeloid cells. In bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced in vitro and in vivo inflammation models, we found that SENP3 deficiency markedly compromises the activation of TLR4 inflammatory signaling and the production of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages exposed to LPS. Moreover, Senp3 conditional knock-out mice were significantly less susceptible to septic shock. Of note, SENP3 deficiency was associated with impairment in JNK phosphorylation. We found that MKK7, which selectively phosphorylates JNK, is a SENP3 substrate and that SENP3-mediated deSUMOylation of MKK7 may favor its binding to JNK. Importantly, ROS-dependent SENP3 accumulation and MKK7 deSUMOylation rapidly occurred after LPS stimulation. In conclusion, our findings indicate that SENP3 potentiates LPS-induced TLR4 signaling via deSUMOylation of MKK7 leading to enhancement in JNK phosphorylation and the downstream events. Therefore this work provides novel mechanistic insights into redox regulation of innate immune responses.

Desumoylase SENP6 maintains osteochondroprogenitor homeostasis by suppressing the p53 pathway

The development, growth, and renewal of skeletal tissues rely on the function of osteochondroprogenitors (OCPs). Protein sumoylation/desumoylation has emerged as a pivotal mechanism for stem cell/progenitor homeostasis, and excessive sumoylation has been associated with cell senescence and tissue aging, but its role in regulating OCP function is unclear. Here we show that postnatal loss of the desumoylase SUMO1/sentrin-specific peptidase 6 (SENP6) causes premature aging. OCP-specific SENP6 knockout mice exhibit smaller skeletons, with elevated apoptosis and cell senescence in OCPs and chondrocytes. In Senp6 ^‒/‒ cells, the two most significantly elevated pathways are p53 signaling and senescence-associated secreted phenotypes (SASP), and Trp53 loss partially rescues the skeletal and cellular phenotypes caused by Senp6 loss. Furthermore, SENP6 interacts with, desumoylates, and stabilizes TRIM28, suppressing p53 activity. Our data reveals a crucial role of the SENP6-p53 axis in maintaining OCP homeostasis during skeletal development.

The Latency-Associated Nuclear Antigen of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Inhibits Expression of SUMO/Sentrin-Specific Peptidase 6 To Facilitate Establishment of Latency

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), which belongs to the Gammaherpesviridae, typically displays two different phases in its life cycle, the latent phase and the lytic phase. Latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA), the primary viral product during latency, has been reported to bind to a series of cellular gene promoters to modulate gene transcription. To systemically elucidate the cellular genes regulated by LANA, we identified genome-wide LANA binding sites by chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with sequencing (ChIP-seq). We stratified ChIP-seq data and found that LANA might be involved in the macromolecule catabolic process. Specifically, we found and verified that LANA could directly bind to the promoter of the SUMO/sentrin-specific peptidase 6 (SENP6) gene in vivo and in vitro LANA could repress SENP6 promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner in a reporter gene assay. LANA expression was sufficient to inhibit endogenous SENP6 expression at both the RNA and protein levels. Moreover, SENP6 overexpression in KSHV-infected cells reduced LANA at the protein level. Mechanistically, we found that SENP6 could interact with LANA and reduce the formation of sumoylated LANA, which relies on the desumoylation ability of SENP6. During de novo infection, SENP6 overexpression would decrease the abundance of LANA and enhance viral gene expression, which would hamper the establishment of latency. Taken together, these data suggest that KSHV-encoded LANA could inhibit SENP6 expression to regulate the abundance of itself, which may play an important role in controlling the establishment of latency.IMPORTANCE LANA, as a key latent protein produced by KSHV, is responsible for episome persistence and regulates viral reactivation. In the present study, our results demonstrated that LANA could bind to the promoter region of the SENP6 gene and inhibit SENP6 expression while the regulated SENP6 could in turn modulate the abundance of LANA through desumoylation. This delicate regulation may provide important insights to explain the abundance of LANA during KSHV latency.

Type I interferons regulate susceptibility to inflammation-induced preterm birth

Preterm birth (PTB) is a leading worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality in infants. Maternal inflammation induced by microbial infection is a critical predisposing factor for PTB. However, biological processes associated with competency of pathogens, including viruses, to induce PTB or sensitize for secondary bacterial infection-driven PTB are unknown. We show that pathogen/pathogen-associated molecular pattern-driven activation of type I IFN/IFN receptor (IFNAR) was sufficient to prime for systemic and uterine proinflammatory chemokine and cytokine production and induction of PTB. Similarly, treatment with recombinant type I IFNs recapitulated such effects by exacerbating proinflammatory cytokine production and reducing the dose of secondary inflammatory challenge required for induction of PTB. Inflammatory challenge-driven induction of PTB was eliminated by defects in type I IFN, TLR, or IL-6 responsiveness, whereas the sequence of type I IFN sensing by IFNAR on hematopoietic cells was essential for regulation of proinflammatory cytokine production. Importantly, we also show that type I IFN priming effects are conserved from mice to nonhuman primates and humans, and expression of both type I IFNs and proinflammatory cytokines is upregulated in human PTB. Thus, activation of the type I IFN/IFNAR axis in pregnancy primes for inflammation-driven PTB and provides an actionable biomarker and therapeutic target for mitigating PTB risk.

The E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF185 facilitates the cGAS-mediated innate immune response

The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), upon cytosolic DNA stimulation, catalyzes the formation of the second messenger 2'3'-cGAMP, which then binds to stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and activates downstream signaling. It remains to be elucidated how the cGAS enzymatic activity is modulated dynamically. Here, we reported that the ER ubiquitin ligase RNF185 interacted with cGAS during HSV-1 infection. Ectopic-expression or knockdown of RNF185 respectively enhanced or impaired the IRF3-responsive gene expression. Mechanistically, RNF185 specifically catalyzed the K27-linked poly-ubiquitination of cGAS, which promoted its enzymatic activity. Additionally, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients displayed elevated expression of RNF185 mRNA. Collectively, this study uncovers RNF185 as the first E3 ubiquitin ligase of cGAS, shedding light on the regulation of cGAS activity in innate immune responses.

SUMO and the robustness of cancer

Post-translational protein modification by small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO), termed sumoylation, is an important mechanism in cellular responses to stress and one that appears to be upregulated in many cancers. Here, we examine the role of sumoylation in tumorigenesis as a possibly necessary safeguard that protects the stability and functionality of otherwise easily misregulated gene expression programmes and signalling pathways of cancer cells.

Sub-cellular localization specific SUMOylation in the heart

Although the majority of SUMO substrates are localized in the nucleus, SUMOylation is not limited to nuclear proteins and can be also detected in extra-nuclear proteins. In this review, we will highlight and discuss how SUMOylation in different cellular compartments regulate biological processes. First, we will discuss the key role of SUMOylation of proteins in the extra-nuclear compartment in cardiomyocytes, which is overwhelmingly cardio-protective. On the other hand, SUMOylation of nuclear proteins is generally detrimental to the cardiac function mainly because of the trans-repressive nature of SUMOylation on many transcription factors. We will also discuss the potential role of SUMOylation in epigenetic regulation. In this review, we will propose a new concept that shuttling of SUMO proteases between the nuclear and extra-nuclear compartments without changing their enzymatic activity regulates the extent of SUMOylation in these compartments and determines the response and fate of cardiomyocytes after cardiac insults. Approaches focused specifically to inhibit this shuttling in cardiomyocytes will be necessary to understand the whole picture of SUMOylation and its pathophysiological consequences in the heart, especially after cardiac insults. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Genetic and epigenetic control of heart failure - edited by Jun Ren & Megan Yingmei Zhang.

SENP7 Potentiates cGAS Activation by Relieving SUMO-Mediated Inhibition of Cytosolic DNA Sensing

Cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS, a.k.a. MB21D1), a cytosolic DNA sensor, catalyzes formation of the second messenger 2’3’-cGAMP that activates the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling. How the cGAS activity is modulated remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 7 (SENP7) interacted with and potentiated cGAS activation. The small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) was conjugated onto the lysine residues 335, 372 and 382 of cGAS, which suppressed its DNA-binding, oligomerization and nucleotidyl-transferase activities. SENP7 reversed this inhibition via catalyzing the cGAS de-SUMOylation. Consistently, silencing of SENP7 markedly impaired the IRF3-responsive gene expression induced by cGAS-STING axis. SENP7-knockdown mice were more susceptible to herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection. SENP7 was significantly up-regulated in patients with SLE. Our study highlights the temporal modulation of the cGAS activity via dynamic SUMOylation, uncovering a novel mechanism for fine-tuning the STING signaling in innate immunity.

The Cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS, a.k.a. MB21D1) is critical for monitoring the pathogen-derived DNA upon microbial infection. Its activity should be dynamically modulated in case the inadvertent recognition of the aberrant self nucleic acids in cytosol leads to severe autoimmune diseases. Protein posttranslational modifications dynamically shape the strength and duration of the immune signaling pathways. It is intriguing to explore whether SUMOylation could modulate the cGAS-initiated signaling. In this study, we characterized sentrin/SUMO-specific protease 7 (SENP7) to specifically potentiate the cGAS activation. Upon microbial DNA challenge, the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) was conjugated onto cGAS, which suppressed its DNA-binding, oligomerization and nucleotidyl-transferase activities. SENP7 reversed this inhibition via catalyzing the de-SUMOylation of cGAS. Our study sheds new light on the dynamic function of the SUMOylation in cytosolic DNAs-triggered innate immunity response.

Flow signaling and atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis rarely develops in the region of arteries exposed to undisturbed flow (u-flow, unidirectional flow). Instead, atherogenesis occurs in the area exposed to disturbed flow (d-flow, multidirectional flow). Based on these general pathohistological observations, u-flow is considered to be athero-protective, while d-flow is atherogenic. The fact that u-flow and d-flow induce such clearly different biological responses in the wall of large arteries indicates that these two types of flow activate each distinct intracellular signaling cascade in vascular endothelial cells (ECs), which are directly exposed to blood flow. The ability of ECs to differentially respond to the two types of flow provides an opportunity to identify molecular events that lead to endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. In this review, we will focus on various molecular events, which are differentially regulated by these two flow types. We will discuss how various kinases, ER stress, inflammasome, SUMOylation, and DNA methylation play roles in the differential flow response, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. We will also discuss the interplay among the molecular events and how they coordinately regulate flow-dependent signaling and cellular responses. It is hoped that clear understanding of the way how the two flow types beget each unique phenotype in ECs will lead us to possible points of intervention against endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases.

Keratin 8 limits TLR-triggered inflammatory responses through inhibiting TRAF6 polyubiquitination

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have critical roles in innate immunity and inflammation and the detailed mechanisms by which TLR signaling is fine tuned remain unclear. Keratin 8 (CK8) belongs to the type II keratin family and is the major compontent of the intermediate filaments of simple or single-layered epithelia. Here we report that down-regulation of CK8 in mice enhanced TLR-mediated responses, rendering mice more susceptible to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxin shock and Escherichia coli–caused septic peritonitis with reduced survival, elevated levels of inflammation cytokines and more severe tissue damage. We found that CK8 suppressed TLR-induced nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation and interacted with the adaptor tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) to prevent its polyubiquitination. Our findings demonstrate a novel role of CK8 in negative regulation of TLR/NF-κB signaling and highlight a previously unidentified nonclassical function for CK8 in limiting inflammatory responses.