TANK is a negative regulator of Toll-like receptor signaling and is critical for the prevention of autoimmune nephritis

Nat Immunol. 2009 Sep;10(9):965-72. doi: 10.1038/ni.1771. Epub 2009 Aug 9.

Abstract

The intensity and duration of immune responses are controlled by many proteins that modulate Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. TANK has been linked to positive regulation of the transcription factors IRF3 and NF-kappaB. Here we demonstrate that TANK is not involved in interferon responses and is a negative regulator of proinflammatory cytokine production induced by TLR signaling. TLR-induced polyubiquitination of the ubiquitin ligase TRAF6 was upregulated in Tank(-/-) macrophages. Notably, Tank(-/-) mice spontaneously developed fatal glomerulonephritis owing to deposition of immune complexes. Autoantibody production in Tank(-/-) mice was abrogated by antibiotic treatment or the absence of interleukin 6 (IL-6) or the adaptor MyD88. Our results demonstrate that constitutive TLR signaling by intestinal commensal microflora is suppressed by TANK.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Autoimmunity
  • CD40 Antigens / physiology
  • Female
  • Glomerulonephritis / prevention & control*
  • Intestines / microbiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / physiology
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptors / physiology*
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • CD40 Antigens
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6
  • Tank protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Ubiquitin