Termination of NF-kappaB activity through a gammaherpesvirus protein that assembles an EC5S ubiquitin-ligase.

Host colonisation by lymphotropic gammaherpesviruses depends critically on the expansion of viral genomes in germinal centre (GC) B cells. Yet, host and virus molecular mechanisms involved in driving such proliferation remain largely unknown. Here, we show that the ORF73 protein encoded by the murid herpesvirus-4 (MuHV-4) inhibits host nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) transcriptional activity through poly-ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal-dependent nuclear degradation of the NF-kappaB family member p65/RelA. The mechanism involves the assembly of an ElonginC/Cullin5/SOCS (suppressors of cytokine signalling)-like complex, mediated by an unconventional viral SOCS-box motif present in ORF73. Functional deletion of this SOCS-box motif ablated NF-kappaB inhibitory effect of ORF73, suppressed MuHV-4 expansion in GC B cells and prevented MuHV-4 persistent infection in mice. These findings demonstrate that viral inhibition of NF-kappaB activity in latently infected GC centroblasts is critical for the establishment of a gammaherpesvirus persistent infection, underscoring the physiological importance of proteasomal degradation of RelA/NF-kappaB as a regulatory mechanism of this signalling pathway.

Heme oxygenase-1 inhibits the expression of adhesion molecules associated with endothelial cell activation via inhibition of NF-kappaB RelA phosphorylation at serine 276.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1; encoded by the Hmox1 gene) catalyzes the degradation of free heme into biliverdin, via a reaction that releases iron (Fe) and carbon monoxide. We report that HO-1 down-regulates the proinflammatory phenotype associated with endothelial cell (EC) activation by reducing intracellular nonprotein-bound Fe (labile Fe). EC isolated from Hmox1(-/-) mice have higher levels of intracellular labile Fe and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as compared with EC isolated from Hmox1(+/+) mice. Basal and TNF-induced expression of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and E-selectin were increased in Hmox1(-/-) vs Hmox1(+/+) EC, an effect reversed by Fe chelation using deferoxamine mesylate (DFO). Fe chelation inhibits TNF-driven transcription of Vcam-1, Icam-1, and E-selectin, as assessed using luciferase reporter assays. This effect is associated with inhibition of the transcription factor NF-kappaB via a mechanism that is not associated with the inhibition of IkappaBalpha phosphorylation/degradation or NF-kappaB (i.e., RelA) nuclear translocation, although it affects very modestly NF-kappaB binding to DNA kappaB consensus sequences in the Vcam-1 and E-selectin promoters. HO-1 inhibits NF-kappaB (i.e., RelA) phosphorylation at Ser(276), a phosphoacceptor that is critical to sustain TNF-driven NF-kappaB activity in EC. This effect was mimicked by Fe chelation as well as by antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine). In conclusion, we demonstrate a novel mechanism via which HO-1 down-modulates the proinflammatory phenotype of activated EC, i.e., the inhibition of RelA phosphorylation at Ser(276).

The antiapoptotic effect of heme oxygenase-1 in endothelial cells involves the degradation of p38 alpha MAPK isoform.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protects endothelial cells (EC) from undergoing apoptosis. This effect is mimicked by CO, generated via the catabolism of heme by HO-1. The antiapoptotic effect of CO in EC was abrogated when activation of the p38alpha and p38beta MAPKs was inhibited by the pyridinyl imidazole SB202190. Using small interfering RNA, p38beta was found to be cytoprotective in EC, whereas p38alpha was not. When overexpressed in EC, HO-1 targeted specifically the p38alpha but not the p38beta MAPK isoform for degradation by the 26S proteasome, an effect reversed by the 26S proteasome inhibitors MG-132 or lactacystin. Inhibition of p38alpha expression was also observed when HO-1 was induced physiologically by iron protoporphyrin IX (hemin). Inhibition of p38alpha no longer occurred when HO activity was inhibited by tin protoporphyrin IX, suggesting that p38alpha degradation was mediated by an end product of heme catabolism. Exogenous CO inhibited p38alpha expression in EC, suggesting that CO is the end product that mediates this effect. The antiapoptotic effect of HO-1 was impaired when p38alpha expression was restored ectopically or when its degradation by the 26S proteasome was inhibited by MG-132. Furthermore, the antiapoptotic effect of HO-1 was lost when p38beta expression was targeted by a specific p38beta small interfering RNA. In conclusion, the antiapoptotic effect of HO-1 in EC is dependent on the degradation of p38alpha by the 26S proteasome and on the expression of p38beta.

Heme oxygenase-1 modulates the expression of adhesion molecules associated with endothelial cell activation.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) cleaves the porphyrin ring of heme into carbon monoxide, Fe2+, and biliverdin, which is then converted into bilirubin. Heme-derived Fe2+ induces the expression of the iron-sequestering protein ferritin and activates the ATPase Fe2+-secreting pump, which decrease intracellular free Fe2+ content. Based on the antioxidant effect of bilirubin and that of decreased free cellular Fe2+, we questioned whether HO-1 would modulate the expression of proinflammatory genes associated with endothelial cell (EC) activation. We tested this hypothesis specifically for the genes E-selectin (CD62), ICAM-1 (CD54), and VCAM-1 (CD106). We found that HO-1 overexpression in EC inhibited TNF-alpha-mediated E-selectin and VCAM-1, but not ICAM-1 expression, as tested at the RNA and protein level. Heme-driven HO-1 expression had similar effects to those of overexpressed HO-1. In addition, HO-1 inhibited the activation of NF-kappaB, a transcription factor required for TNF-alpha-mediated up-regulation of these genes in EC. Bilirubin and/or Fe2+ chelation mimicked the effects of HO-1, whereas biliverdin or carbon monoxide did not. In conclusion, HO-1 inhibits the expression of proinflammatory genes associated with EC activation via a mechanism that is associated with the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation. This effect of HO-1 is mediated by bilirubin and/or by a decrease of free intracellular Fe2+ but probably not by biliverdin or carbon monoxide.

Heme oxygenase-1-derived carbon monoxide requires the activation of transcription factor NF-kappa B to protect endothelial cells from tumor necrosis factor-alpha-mediated apoptosis.

We have shown that carbon monoxide (CO) generated by heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protects endothelial cells (EC) from tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-alpha)-mediated apoptosis. This effect relies on the activation of p38 MAPK. We now demonstrate that HO-1/CO requires the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB to exert this anti-apoptotic effect. Our data suggest that EC have basal levels of NF-kappaB activity that sustain the expression of NF-kappaB-dependent anti-apoptotic genes required to support the anti-apoptotic effect of HO-1/CO. Over-expression of the inhibitor of NF-kappaB alpha (IkappaBalpha) suppresses the anti-apoptotic action of HO-1/CO. Reconstitution of NF-kappaB activity, by co-expression of IkappaBalpha with different members of the NF-kappaB family, i.e. p65/RelA or p65/RelA plus c-Rel, restores the anti-apoptotic effect of HO-1/CO. Expression of the NF-kappaB family members p65/RelA or p65/RelA with p50 or c-Rel up-regulates the expression of the anti-apoptotic genes A1, A20, c-IAP2, and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Inhibition of NF-kappaB activity by over-expression of IkappaBalpha suppresses the expression of some of these anti-apoptotic genes, i.e. c-IAP2. Under inhibition of NF-kappaB, co-expression of some of these anti-apoptotic genes, i.e. c-IAP2 and A1, restores the anti-apoptotic action of HO-1/CO, whereas expression of A20 or MnSOD cannot. The ability of c-IAP2 and/or A1 to restore the anti-apoptotic action of HO-1/CO is abolished when p38 MAPK activation is blocked by over-expression of a p38 MAPK dominant negative mutant. In conclusion, we demonstrate that HO-1/CO cooperates with NF-kappaB-dependent anti-apoptotic genes, i.e. c-IAP2 and A1, to protect EC from TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis. This effect is dependent on the ability of HO-1/CO to activate the p38 MAPK signal transduction pathway.