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Cao W, Sturmlechner I, Zhang H, Jin J, Hu B, Jadhav RR, Fang F, Weyand CM, Goronzy JJ. TRIB2 safeguards naive T cell homeostasis during aging. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112195. [PMID: 36884349 PMCID: PMC10118747 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Naive CD4+ T cells are more resistant to age-related loss than naive CD8+ T cells, suggesting mechanisms that preferentially protect naive CD4+ T cells during aging. Here, we show that TRIB2 is more abundant in naive CD4+ than CD8+ T cells and counteracts quiescence exit by suppressing AKT activation. TRIB2 deficiency increases AKT activity and accelerates proliferation and differentiation in response to interleukin-7 (IL-7) in humans and during lymphopenia in mice. TRIB2 transcription is controlled by the lineage-determining transcription factors ThPOK and RUNX3. Ablation of Zbtb7b (encoding ThPOK) and Cbfb (obligatory RUNT cofactor) attenuates the difference in lymphopenia-induced proliferation between naive CD4+ and CD8+ cells. In older adults, ThPOK and TRIB2 expression wanes in naive CD4+ T cells, causing loss of naivety. These findings assign TRIB2 a key role in regulating T cell homeostasis and provide a model to explain the lesser resilience of CD8+ T cells to undergo changes with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqiang Cao
- Key Laboratory of Major Chronic Diseases of Nervous System of Liaoning Province, Health Sciences Institute of China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Ines Sturmlechner
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Huimin Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Jun Jin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Bin Hu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA
| | - Rohit R Jadhav
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Fengqin Fang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China
| | - Cornelia M Weyand
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Jörg J Goronzy
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94305, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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Qu F, Zeng X, Liu Z, Guo M, Zhang X, Cao S, Zhou Y, He Z, Tang J, Mao Z, Yang Y, Zhou Z, Liu Z. Functional characterization of MEKK3 in the intestinal immune response to bacterial challenges in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Front Immunol 2022; 13:981995. [PMID: 35990669 PMCID: PMC9388831 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.981995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3) is an evolutionarily conserved Ser/Thr protein kinase of the MEKK family that is essential for the host immune response to pathogen challenges in mammals. However, the immune function of MEKK3s in lower vertebrate species, especially in bony fish, remains largely unknown. In this study, a fish MEKK3 (designated CiMEKK3) gene was cloned and identified from grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The present CiMEKK3 cDNA encoded a 620 amino acid polypeptide containing a conserved S-TKc domain and a typical PB1 domain. Several potential immune-related transcription factor-binding sites, including activating protein 1 (AP-1), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of downstream transcription 3 (STAT3), were observed in the 5’ upstream DNA sequence of CiMEKK3. A phylogenetic tree showed that CiMEKK3 exhibits a close evolutionary relationship with MEKK3s from Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that CiMEKK3 transcripts were widely distributed in all selected tissues of healthy grass carp, with a relatively high levels observed in the gill, head kidney and intestine. Upon in vitro challenge with bacterial pathogens (Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas veronii) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) (lipopolysaccharide (LPS), peptidoglycan (PGN), L-Ala-γ-D-Glu-mDAP (Tri-DAP) and muramyl dipeptide (MDP)), the expression levels of CiMEKK3 in the intestinal cells of grass carp were shown to be significantly upregulated in a time-dependent manner. In vivo injection experiments revealed that CiMEKK3 transcripts were significantly induced by MDP challenge in the intestine; however, these effects could be inhibited by the nutritional dipeptides carnosine and Ala-Gln. Moreover, subcellular localization analysis and luciferase reporter assays indicated that CiMEKK3 could act as a cytoplasmic signal-transducing activator involved in the regulation of NF-κB and MAPK/AP-1 signaling cascades in HEK293T cells. Taken together, these findings strongly suggest that CiMEKK3 plays vital roles in the intestinal immune response to bacterial challenges, which will aid in understanding the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease in bony fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fufa Qu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Quality Control of Aquatic Animals, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuan Zeng
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Quality Control of Aquatic Animals, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhenzhen Liu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Quality Control of Aquatic Animals, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, China
| | - Meixing Guo
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Quality Control of Aquatic Animals, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Quality Control of Aquatic Animals, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, China
| | - Shenping Cao
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Quality Control of Aquatic Animals, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, China
| | - Yonghua Zhou
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Quality Control of Aquatic Animals, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhimin He
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Quality Control of Aquatic Animals, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, China
| | - Jianzhou Tang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Quality Control of Aquatic Animals, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhuangwen Mao
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Quality Control of Aquatic Animals, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, China
| | - Yalin Yang
- Key Laboratory for Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhigang Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Feed Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Quality Control of Aquatic Animals, Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Zhen Liu,
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3
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MEKK3-TGFβ crosstalk regulates inward arterial remodeling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2112625118. [PMID: 34911761 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2112625118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Arterial remodeling is an important adaptive mechanism that maintains normal fluid shear stress in a variety of physiologic and pathologic conditions. Inward remodeling, a process that leads to reduction in arterial diameter, plays a critical role in progression of such common diseases as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Yet, despite its pathogenic importance, molecular mechanisms controlling inward remodeling remain undefined. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) perform a number of functions ranging from control of proliferation to migration and cell-fate transitions. While the MAPK ERK1/2 signaling pathway has been extensively examined in the endothelium, less is known about the role of the MEKK3/ERK5 pathway in vascular remodeling. To better define the role played by this signaling cascade, we studied the effect of endothelial-specific deletion of its key upstream MAP3K, MEKK3, in adult mice. The gene's deletion resulted in a gradual inward remodeling of both pulmonary and systematic arteries, leading to spontaneous hypertension in both vascular circuits and accelerated progression of atherosclerosis in hyperlipidemic mice. Molecular analysis revealed activation of TGFβ-signaling both in vitro and in vivo. Endothelial-specific TGFβR1 knockout prevented inward arterial remodeling in MEKK3 endothelial knockout mice. These data point to the unexpected participation of endothelial MEKK3 in regulation of TGFβR1-Smad2/3 signaling and inward arterial remodeling in artery diseases.
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Yuan Q, Basit A, Liang W, Qu R, Luan Y, Ren C, Li A, Xu X, Liu X, Yang C, Kuo A, Pierce R, Zhang L, Turk B, Hu X, Li F, Cui W, Li R, Huang D, Mo L, Sessa WC, Lee PJ, Kluger Y, Su B, Tang W, He J, Wu D. Pazopanib ameliorates acute lung injuries via inhibition of MAP3K2 and MAP3K3. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/591/eabc2499. [PMID: 33910977 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abc2499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Acute lung injury (ALI) causes high mortality and lacks any pharmacological intervention. Here, we found that pazopanib ameliorated ALI manifestations and reduced mortality in mouse ALI models and reduced edema in human lung transplantation recipients. Pazopanib inhibits mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MAP3K2)- and MAP3K3-mediated phosphorylation of NADPH oxidase 2 subunit p47phox at Ser208 to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in myeloid cells. Genetic inactivation of MAP3K2 and MAP3K3 in myeloid cells or hematopoietic mutation of p47phox Ser208 to alanine attenuated ALI manifestations and abrogates anti-ALI effects of pazopanib. This myeloid MAP3K2/MAP3K3-p47phox pathway acted via paracrine H2O2 to enhance pulmonary vasculature integrity and promote lung epithelial cell survival and proliferation, leading to increased pulmonary barrier function and resistance to ALI. Thus, pazopanib has the potential to be effective for treating ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianying Yuan
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Abdul Basit
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Wenhua Liang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery/Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Rihao Qu
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Yi Luan
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Chunguang Ren
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ao Li
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery/Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery/Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Chun Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery/Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Andrew Kuo
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Richard Pierce
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Longbo Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Benjamin Turk
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Xin Hu
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Fangyong Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Weixue Cui
- Department of Thoracic Surgery/Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Run Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery/Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Danxia Huang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery/Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Lili Mo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery/Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - William C Sessa
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Patty J Lee
- Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Yuval Kluger
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Bing Su
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Wenwen Tang
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jianxing He
- Department of Thoracic Surgery/Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, China State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease and National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510120, China.
| | - Dianqing Wu
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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5
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Li D, Kong L, Cui Z, Zhao F, Deng Y, Tan A, Jiang L. MEKK3 in hybrid snakehead (Channa maculate ♀ ×Channa argus ♂): Molecular characterization and immune response to infection with Nocardia seriolae and Aeromonas schubertii. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 256:110643. [PMID: 34186154 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3) is a serine/threonine protein kinase that acts as a key regulator and is widely involved in various innate and acquired immune signaling pathways. In this study, we first cloned the complete open reading frame (ORF) of the MEKK3 gene (named CcMEKK3) in a hybrid snakehead (Channa maculate ♀ × Channa argus ♂). The full-length ORF of CcMEKK3 is 1851 bp, and encodes a putative protein of 616 amino acids containing a serine/threonine kinase catalytic (S-TKc) domain and a Phox and Bem1p (PB1) domain. A sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis showed that CcMEKK3 is highly conserved relative to the MEKK3 proteins of other teleost species. CcMEKK3 was constitutively expressed in all the healthy hybrid snakehead tissues tested, with greatest expression in the immune tissues, such as the head kidney and spleen. The expression of CcMEKK3 was usually upregulated in the head kidney, spleen, and liver at different time points after infection with Nocardia seriolae or Aeromonas schubertii. Similarly, the dynamic expression levels of CcMEKK3 in head kidney leukocytes after stimulation revealed that CcMEKK3 was induced by LTA, LPS, and poly(I:C). In the subcellular localization analysis, CcMEKK3 was evenly distributed in the cytoplasm of HEK293T cells, and its overexpression significantly promoted the activities of NF-κB and AP-1. These results suggest that CcMEKK3 is involved in the immune defense against these two pathogens, and plays a crucial role in activating the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqi Li
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Lulu Kong
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, China
| | - Zhengwei Cui
- Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Fujian Province, Institute of Oceanology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Fei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, China.
| | - Yuting Deng
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, China
| | - Aiping Tan
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, China
| | - Lan Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Fishery Drug Development of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Immune Technology of Guangdong Province, Pearl River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510380, China
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6
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Platelet MEKK3 regulates arterial thrombosis and myocardial infarct expansion in mice. Blood Adv 2019; 2:1439-1448. [PMID: 29941457 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017015149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
MAPKs play important roles in platelet activation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which MAPKs are regulated in platelets remain largely unknown. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot data showed that MEKK3, a key MAP3K family member, was expressed in human and mouse platelets. Then, megakaryocyte/platelet-specific MEKK3-deletion (MEKK3-/- ) mice were developed to elucidate the platelet-related function(s) of MEKK3. We found that agonist-induced aggregation and degranulation were reduced in MEKK3-/- platelets in vitro. MEKK3 deficiency significantly impaired integrin αIIbβ3-mediated inside-out signaling but did not affect the outside-in signaling. At the molecular level, MEKK3 deficiency led to severely impaired activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 2 but not p38 or ERK5. In vivo, MEKK3-/- mice showed delayed thrombus formation following FeCl3-induced carotid artery injury. Interestingly, the tail bleeding time was normal in MEKK3-/- mice. Moreover, MEKK3-/- mice had fewer microthrombi, reduced myocardial infarction (MI) size, and improved post-MI heart function in a mouse model of MI. These results suggest that MEKK3 plays important roles in platelet MAPK activation and may be used as a new effective target for antithrombosis and prevention of MI expansion.
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Xu D, Yao M, Wang Y, Yuan L, Hoeck JD, Yu J, Liu L, Yeap YYC, Zhang W, Zhang F, Feng Y, Ma T, Wang Y, Ng DCH, Niu X, Su B, Behrens A, Xu Z. MEKK3 coordinates with FBW7 to regulate WDR62 stability and neurogenesis. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2006613. [PMID: 30566428 PMCID: PMC6347294 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations of WD repeat domain 62 (WDR62) lead to autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH), and down-regulation of WDR62 expression causes the loss of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). However, how WDR62 is regulated and hence controls neurogenesis and brain size remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (MEKK3) forms a complex with WDR62 to promote c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling synergistically in the control of neurogenesis. The deletion of Mekk3, Wdr62, or Jnk1 resulted in phenocopied defects, including premature NPC differentiation. We further showed that WDR62 protein is positively regulated by MEKK3 and JNK1 in the developing brain and that the defects of wdr62 deficiency can be rescued by the transgenic expression of JNK1. Meanwhile, WDR62 is also negatively regulated by T1053 phosphorylation, leading to the recruitment of F-box and WD repeat domain-containing protein 7 (FBW7) and proteasomal degradation. Our findings demonstrate that the coordinated reciprocal and bidirectional regulation among MEKK3, FBW7, WDR62, and JNK1, is required for fine-tuned JNK signaling for the control of balanced NPC self-renewal and differentiation during cortical development. Microcephaly is a neural developmental disorder characterized by significantly reduced brain size and variable intellectual disability. WD repeat domain 62 (WDR62) was identified as the second most common gene for autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) in human. Here, we studied the underlying regulatory mechanism of WDR62 and the impact on generation of new neurons. We show that mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3 (Mekk3), Wdr62, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (Jnk1) knockout (KO) mice have defects in the generation and maturation of neurons. We demonstrate that WDR62 stability is positively regulated by a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAPKKK), MEKK3, but negatively regulated by the E3 ligase, F-box and WD repeat domain-containing protein 7 (FBW7). These positive and negative factors calibrate the strength of the activity of the JNK signaling pathway, which controls self-renewal and differentiation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) during brain development. This finding improves our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of MCPH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Institute of Life Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Minghui Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Yuan
- Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | | | - Jingwen Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yvonne Y. C. Yeap
- School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Weiya Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yinghang Feng
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
| | - Tiantian Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yujie Wang
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Institute of Life Sciences, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Dominic C. H. Ng
- School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Xiaoyin Niu
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Bing Su
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Axel Behrens
- Adult Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Guy’s Campus, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (ZX); (AB)
| | - Zhiheng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (ZX); (AB)
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8
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Wu L, Chen X, Zhao J, Martin B, Zepp JA, Ko JS, Gu C, Cai G, Ouyang W, Sen G, Stark GR, Su B, Vines CM, Tournier C, Hamilton TA, Vidimos A, Gastman B, Liu C, Li X. A novel IL-17 signaling pathway controlling keratinocyte proliferation and tumorigenesis via the TRAF4-ERK5 axis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 212:1571-87. [PMID: 26347473 PMCID: PMC4577838 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20150204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Wu et al. report a novel IL-17–mediated cascade via the IL-17R–TRAF4–ERK5 axis that directly stimulates keratinocyte proliferation and skin tumor formation in mice. Although IL-17 is emerging as an important cytokine in cancer promotion and progression, the underlining molecular mechanism remains unclear. Previous studies suggest that IL-17 (IL-17A) sustains a chronic inflammatory microenvironment that favors tumor formation. Here we report a novel IL-17–mediated cascade via the IL-17R–Act1–TRAF4–MEKK3–ERK5 positive circuit that directly stimulates keratinocyte proliferation and tumor formation. Although this axis dictates the expression of target genes Steap4 (a metalloreductase for cell metabolism and proliferation) and p63 (a transcription factor for epidermal stem cell proliferation), Steap4 is required for the IL-17–induced sustained expansion of p63+ basal cells in the epidermis. P63 (a positive transcription factor for the Traf4 promoter) induces TRAF4 expression in keratinocytes. Thus, IL-17–induced Steap4-p63 expression forms a positive feedback loop through p63-mediated TRAF4 expression, driving IL-17–dependent sustained activation of the TRAF4–ERK5 axis for keratinocyte proliferation and tumor formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Wu
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195 Department of Pathology and Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Xing Chen
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - Junjie Zhao
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195 Department of Pathology and Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Bradley Martin
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195 Department of Pathology and Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Jarod A Zepp
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195 Department of Pathology and Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Jennifer S Ko
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - Chunfang Gu
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - Gang Cai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, and Department of Immunobiology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Wenjun Ouyang
- Department of Immunology, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080
| | - Ganes Sen
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - George R Stark
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - Bing Su
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, and Department of Immunobiology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, and Department of Immunobiology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China Department of Immunobiology and Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520 Department of Immunobiology and Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | | | - Cathy Tournier
- University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, England, UK
| | - Thomas A Hamilton
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - Allison Vidimos
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - Brian Gastman
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195 Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195 Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - Caini Liu
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
| | - Xiaoxia Li
- Department of Immunology, Department of Anatomical Pathology and Clinical Pathology, Department of Cancer Biology, Department of Dermatology, and Department of Plastic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195
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9
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Fisher OS, Deng H, Liu D, Zhang Y, Wei R, Deng Y, Zhang F, Louvi A, Turk BE, Boggon TJ, Su B. Structure and vascular function of MEKK3-cerebral cavernous malformations 2 complex. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7937. [PMID: 26235885 PMCID: PMC4526114 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral cavernous malformations 2 (CCM2) loss is associated with the familial form of CCM disease. The protein kinase MEKK3 (MAP3K3) is essential for embryonic angiogenesis in mice and interacts physically with CCM2, but how this interaction is mediated and its relevance to cerebral vasculature are unknown. Here we report that Mekk3 plays an intrinsic role in embryonic vascular development. Inducible endothelial Mekk3 knockout in neonatal mice is lethal due to multiple intracranial haemorrhages and brain blood vessels leakage. We discover direct interaction between CCM2 harmonin homology domain (HHD) and the N terminus of MEKK3, and determine a 2.35 Å cocrystal structure. We find Mekk3 deficiency impairs neurovascular integrity, which is partially dependent on Rho-ROCK signalling, and that disruption of MEKK3:CCM2 interaction leads to similar neurovascular leakage. We conclude that CCM2:MEKK3-mediated regulation of Rho signalling is required for maintenance of neurovascular integrity, unravelling a mechanism by which CCM2 loss leads to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oriana S. Fisher
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Hanqiang Deng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTU-SM), Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Dou Liu
- Department of Immunobiology and the Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Ya Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology and the Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
- Departments of Hematology and Dermotology, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Rong Wei
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTU-SM), Shanghai 200025, China
- Department of Immunobiology and the Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
- Departments of Hematology and Dermotology, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yong Deng
- Department of Immunobiology and the Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology and the Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
- Departments of Hematology and Dermotology, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Angeliki Louvi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Benjamin E. Turk
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Titus J. Boggon
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
| | - Bing Su
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTU-SM), Shanghai 200025, China
- Department of Immunobiology and the Vascular Biology and Therapeutics Program, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
- Departments of Hematology and Dermotology, XiangYa Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
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10
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MAP3K3 expression in tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is correlated with favorable patient survival in lung cancer. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11471. [PMID: 26088427 PMCID: PMC4650617 DOI: 10.1038/srep11471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
MAP3K3 is involved in both the immune response and in tumor progression. Its potential biological role in vitro in lung cancer cell lines and the association of mRNA/protein expression patterns with clinical outcome of primary lung tumors were investigated in this study. Silencing MAP3K3 using siRNA in lung cancer cell lines resulted in decreased cell proliferation, migration and invasion. These effects were associated with down-regulation of the JNK, p38, AKT, and GSK3β pathways as determined using phospho-protein and gene expression array analyses. However, MAP3K3 mRNA and protein overexpression in primary lung tumors correlated significantly with favorable patient survival. Gene cluster and pathway analyses of primary tumor datasets indicated that genes positively-correlated with MAP3K3 are significantly involved in immune response rather than the cell cycle regulators observed using in vitro analyses. These results indicate that although MAP3K3 overexpression has an oncogenic role in vitro, in primary lung adenocarcinomas it correlates with an active immune response in the tumor environment that correlates with improved patient survival. MAP3K3 may potentially not only serve as diagnostic/prognostic markers for patients with lung cancer but also provide an indicator for future investigations into immunomodulatory therapies for lung cancer.
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11
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Chang X, Lazorchak AS, Liu D, Su B. Sin1 regulates Treg-cell development but is not required for T-cell growth and proliferation. Eur J Immunol 2012; 42:1639-47. [PMID: 22678916 PMCID: PMC3663871 DOI: 10.1002/eji.201142066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian Sin1 plays key roles in the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Sin1 is an essential component of mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2). The functions of Sin1 and mTORC2 remain largely unknown in T cells. Here, we investigate Sin1 function in T cells using mice that lack Sin1 in the hematopoietic system. Sin1 deficiency blocks the mTORC2-dependent Akt phosphorylation in T cells during development and activation. Sin1-deficient T cells exhibit normal thymic cellularity and percentages of double-negative, double-positive, and single-positive CD4(+) and CD8(+) thymocytes. Sin1 deficiency does not impair T-cell receptor (TCR) induced growth and proliferation. Sin1 appears dispensable for in vitro CD4(+) helper cell differentiation. However, Sin1 deficiency results in an increased proportion of Foxp3(+) natural T-regulatory (nTreg) cells in the thymus. The TGF-β-dependent differentiation of CD4(+) T cells in vitro is enhanced by the inhibition of mTOR but not by loss of Sin1 function. Our results reveal that Sin1 and mTORC2 are dispensable for the development and activation of T cells but play a role in nTreg-cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Chang
- Department of Immunobiology and Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA
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12
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Kannan Y, Wilson MS. TEC and MAPK Kinase Signalling Pathways in T helper (T H) cell Development, T H2 Differentiation and Allergic Asthma. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL & CELLULAR IMMUNOLOGY 2012; Suppl 12:11. [PMID: 24116341 PMCID: PMC3792371 DOI: 10.4172/2155-9899.s12-011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Significant advances in our understanding of the signalling events during T cell development and differentiation have been made in the past few decades. It is clear that ligation of the T cell receptor (TCR) triggers a series of proximal signalling cascades regulated by an array of protein kinases. These orchestrated and highly regulated series of events, with differential requirements of particular kinases, highlight the disparities between αβ+CD4+ T cells. Throughout this review we summarise both new and old studies, highlighting the role of Tec and MAPK in T cell development and differentiation with particular focus on T helper 2 (TH2) cells. Finally, as the allergy epidemic continues, we feature the role played by TH2 cells in the development of allergy and provide a brief update on promising kinase inhibitors that have been tested in vitro, in pre-clinical disease models in vivo and into clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yashaswini Kannan
- Division of Molecular Immunology, National Institute for Medical Research, MRC, London, NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Mark S. Wilson
- Division of Molecular Immunology, National Institute for Medical Research, MRC, London, NW7 1AA, UK
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13
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Wang X, Zhang F, Chen F, Liu D, Zheng Y, Zhang Y, Dong C, Su B. MEKK3 regulates IFN-gamma production in T cells through the Rac1/2-dependent MAPK cascades. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2011; 186:5791-800. [PMID: 21471448 PMCID: PMC3833674 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1002127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
MEKK3 is a conserved Ser/Thr protein kinase belonging to the MAPK kinase kinase (MAP3K) family. MEKK3 is constitutively expressed in T cells, but its function in T cell immunity has not been fully elucidated. Using Mekk3 T cell conditional knockout (T-cKO) mice, we show that MEKK3 is required for T cell immunity in vivo. Mekk3 T-cKO mice had reduced T cell response to bacterial infection and were defective in clearing bacterial infections. The Ag-induced cytokine production, especially IFN-γ production, was impaired in Mekk3-deficient CD4 T cells. The TCR-induced ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPKs activation was also defective in Mekk3-deficient CD4 T cells. In vitro, MEKK3 is not required for Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation. Notably, under a nonpolarizing condition (Th0), Mekk3 deficiency led to a significant reduction of IFN-γ production in CD4 T cells. Furthermore, the IL-12/IL-18-driven IFN-γ production and MAPK activation in Mekk3-deficient T cells was not affected suggesting that MEKK3 may selectively mediate the TCR-induced MAPK signals for IFN-γ production. Finally, we found that MEKK3 activation by TCR stimulation requires Rac1/2. Taken together, our study reveals a specific role of MEKK3 in mediating the TCR signals for IFN-γ production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Wang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Department of Genetics and Developmental Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Xiang-Ya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Fanping Chen
- Xiang-Ya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Dou Liu
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Yi Zheng
- Children’s Hospital Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Yongliang Zhang
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Chen Dong
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Bing Su
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
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14
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Chang X, Liu F, Wang X, Lin A, Zhao H, Su B. The kinases MEKK2 and MEKK3 regulate transforming growth factor-β-mediated helper T cell differentiation. Immunity 2011; 34:201-12. [PMID: 21333552 PMCID: PMC3073014 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2011.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2010] [Revised: 11/07/2010] [Accepted: 12/03/2010] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are key mediators of the T cell receptor (TCR) signals but their roles in T helper (Th) cell differentiation are unclear. Here we showed that the MAPK kinase kinases MEKK2 (encoded by Map3k2) and MEKK3 (encoded by Map3k3) negatively regulated transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-mediated Th cell differentiation. Map3k2(-/-)Map3k3(Lck-Cre/-) mice showed an abnormal accumulation of regulatory T (Treg) and Th17 cells in the periphery, consistent with Map3k2(-/-)Map3k3(Lck-Cre/-) naive CD4(+) T cells' differentiation into Treg and Th17 cells with a higher frequency than wild-type (WT) cells after TGF-β stimulation in vitro. In addition, Map3k2(-/-)Map3k3(Lck-Cre/-) mice developed more severe experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Map3k2(-/-)Map3k3(Lck-Cre/-) T cells exhibited impaired phosphorylation of SMAD2 and SMAD3 proteins at their linker regions, which negatively regulated the TGF-β responses in T cells. Thus, the crosstalk between TCR-induced MAPK and the TGF-β signaling pathways is important in regulating Th cell differentiation.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Bone Marrow Transplantation
- Cell Differentiation
- Enzyme Activation
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/analysis
- Lymphocyte Count
- Lymphopenia/enzymology
- Lymphopenia/genetics
- Lymphopenia/pathology
- MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 2/deficiency
- MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 2/genetics
- MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 2/physiology
- MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 3/deficiency
- MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 3/genetics
- MAP Kinase Kinase Kinase 3/physiology
- MAP Kinase Signaling System
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1/metabolism
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3/metabolism
- Phosphorylation
- Protein Processing, Post-Translational
- Protein Structure, Tertiary
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/physiology
- Smad2 Protein/chemistry
- Smad2 Protein/metabolism
- Smad3 Protein/chemistry
- Smad3 Protein/metabolism
- Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
- T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/cytology
- T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/pathology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/chemistry
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/pathology
- Th17 Cells/pathology
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Chang
- Department of Immunobiology and Program in Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
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15
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Daniels MA, Teixeiro E. The persistence of T cell memory. Cell Mol Life Sci 2010; 67:2863-78. [PMID: 20364394 PMCID: PMC11115859 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-010-0362-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2010] [Accepted: 03/19/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
T cell memory is a crucial feature of the adaptive immune system in the defense against pathogens. During the last years, numerous studies have focused their efforts on uncovering the signals, inflammatory cues, and extracellular factors that support memory differentiation. This research is beginning to decipher the complex gene network that controls memory programming. However, how the different signals, that a T cell receives during the process of differentiation, interplay to trigger memory programming is still poorly defined. In this review, we focus on the most recent advances in the field and discuss how T cell receptor signaling and inflammation control CD8 memory differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Daniels
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Center for Cellular and Molecular Immunology, University of Missouri, M616 Medical Sciences Bldg., One Hospital Dr., Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
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16
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Zhang J, Zhu N, Wang Q, Wang J, Ma Y, Qiao C, Li Y, Li X, Su B, Shen B. MEKK3 Overexpression Contributes to the Hyperresponsiveness of IL-12–Overproducing Cells and CD4+ T Conventional Cells in Nonobese Diabetic Mice. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2010; 185:3554-63. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1000431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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17
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Yu L, Su B, Hollomon M, Deng Y, Facchinetti V, Kleinerman ES. Vasculogenesis driven by bone marrow-derived cells is essential for growth of Ewing's sarcomas. Cancer Res 2010; 70:1334-43. [PMID: 20124484 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-09-2795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The role of vasculogenesis as opposed to angiogenesis in tumor formation has been little explored genetically. Endothelial cells that lack the MEK kinase MEKK3 cannot form vessels. In this study, we employed mice with hematopoietic deletions of the Mekk3 gene to evaluate the importance of vasculogenesis in the formation of Ewing's sarcoma tumors. Bone marrow cells (BM) from LacZ(+) Mekk3-deficient conditional knockout mice (Mekk3(Deltaflox/-) mice) were transplanted into irradiated nude mice before injection of Ewing's sarcoma cells. Because the grafted Mekk3(Deltaflox/-) BM cells cannot contribute to vessel development in the same way as the host Mekk3(+/+) endothelial cells, angiogenesis is normal in the model whereas vasculogenesis is impaired. Four weeks after BM transplant, Ewing's sarcoma TC71 or A4573 cells were injected, and tumor growth and vessel density were compared. Strikingly, chimeric mice transplanted with Mekk3(Deltaflox/-) BM exhibited a reduction in tumor growth and vessel density compared with mice transplanted with Mekk3(Deltaflox/+) BM cells. Mekk3(Deltaflox/-) cells that were LacZ positive were visualized within the tumor; however, few of the LacZ(+) cells colocalized with either CD31(+) endothelial cells or desmin(+) pericytes. Quantification of double-positive LacZ(+) and CD31(+) endothelial cells or LacZ(+) and desmin(+) pericytes confirmed that chimeric mice transplanted with Mekk3(Deltaflox/-) BM were impaired for tumor vessel formation. In contrast, siRNA-mediated knockdown of Mekk3 in TC71 Ewing's sarcoma cells had no effect on tumor growth or vessel density. Our findings indicate that vasculogenesis is critical in the expansion of the tumor vascular network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Yu
- Division of Pediatrics and Department of Immunology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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18
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Huang G, Shi LZ, Chi H. Regulation of JNK and p38 MAPK in the immune system: signal integration, propagation and termination. Cytokine 2009; 48:161-9. [PMID: 19740675 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2009.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2009] [Accepted: 08/10/2009] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Stress-activated MAP kinases (MAPKs), comprised of JNK and p38, play prominent roles in the innate and adaptive immune systems. Activation of MAPKs is mediated by a three-tiered kinase module comprised of MAPK kinase kinases (MAP3Ks), MAPK kinases (MAP2Ks) and MAPKs through sequential protein phosphorylation. Activated MAPKs, in turn, phosphorylate transcription factors and other targets to regulate gene transcription and immune responses. Recent studies have provided new insight into the upstream and downstream components of the MAPK pathway that facilitate the activation and propagation of MAPK signaling in immune responses. Moreover, MAPK activity is negatively regulated by MAPK phosphatases (MKPs), a group of dual-specificity phosphatases that dephosphorylate and inactivate the MAPKs. Here we discuss the recent advances in our understanding of these regulatory processes in MAPK signaling with a focus on their impacts on immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonghua Huang
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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