Novel cross-talk within the IKK family controls innate immunity.

Members of the IKK {IκB [inhibitor of NF-κB (nuclear factor κB)] kinase} family play a central role in innate immunity by inducing NF-κB- and IRF [IFN (interferon) regulatory factor]-dependent gene transcription programmes required for the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and IFNs. However, the molecular mechanisms that activate these protein kinases and their complement of physiological substrates remain poorly defined. Using MRT67307, a novel inhibitor of IKKϵ/TBK1 (TANK {TRAF [TNF (tumour-necrosis-factor)-receptor-associated factor]-associated NF-κB activator}-binding kinase 1) and BI605906, a novel inhibitor of IKKß, we demonstrate that two different signalling pathways participate in the activation of the IKK-related protein kinases by ligands that activate the IL-1 (interleukin-1), TLR (Toll-like receptor) 3 and TLR4 receptors. One signalling pathway is mediated by the canonical IKKs, which directly phosphorylate and activate IKKϵ and TBK1, whereas the second pathway appears to culminate in the autocatalytic activation of the IKK-related kinases. In contrast, the TNFα-induced activation of the IKK-related kinases is mediated solely by the canonical IKKs. In turn, the IKK-related kinases phosphorylate the catalytic subunits of the canonical IKKs and their regulatory subunit NEMO (NF-κB essential modulator), which is associated with reduced IKKα/ß activity and NF-κB-dependent gene transcription. We also show that the canonical IKKs and the IKK-related kinases not only have unique physiological substrates, such as IκBα, p105, RelA (IKKα and IKKß) and IRF3 (IKKϵ and TBK1), but also have several substrates in common, including the catalytic and regulatory (NEMO and TANK) subunits of the IKKs themselves. Taken together, our studies reveal that the canonical IKKs and the IKK-related kinases regulate each other by an intricate network involving phosphorylation of their catalytic and regulatory (NEMO and TANK) subunits to balance their activities during innate immunity.

The role of TBK1 and IKKε in the expression and activation of Pellino 1.

Mammalian Pellino isoforms are phosphorylated by IRAK (interleukin receptor associated kinase) 1/IRAK4 in vitro, converting them into active E3 ubiquitin ligases. In the present paper we report a striking enhancement in both transcription of the gene encoding Pellino 1 and Pellino 1 protein expression when murine BMDMs (bone-marrow-derived macrophages) are stimulated with LPS (lipopolysaccharide) or poly(I:C). This induction occurs via a TRIF [TIR (Toll/interleukin-1 receptor)-domain-containing adaptor-inducing interferon-ß]-dependent IRAK-independent pathway and is prevented by inhibition of the IKK [IκB (inhibitor of nuclear factor κB) kinase]-related protein kinases, TBK1 {TANK [TRAF (tumour-necrosis-factor-receptor-associated factor)-associated nuclear factor κB activator]-binding kinase 1} and IKKε. Pellino 1 is not induced in IRF3 (interferon regulatory factor 3)-/- BMDMs, and its induction is only reduced slightly in type 1 interferon receptor-/- BMDMs, identifying Pellino 1 as a new IRF3-dependent gene. We also identify Pellino 1 in a two-hybrid screen using IKKε as bait, and show that IKKε/TBK1 activate Pellino 1 in vitro by phosphorylating Ser76, Thr288 and Ser293. Moreover, we show that the E3 ligase activity of endogenous Pellino 1 is activated in LPS- or poly(I:C)-stimulated macrophages. This occurs more rapidly than the increase in Pellino 1 mRNA and protein expression, is prevented by the inhibition of IKKε/TBK1 and is reversed by phosphatase treatment. Thus IKKε/TBK1 mediate the activation of Pellino 1's E3 ligase activity, as well as inducing the transcription of its gene and protein expression in response to TLR3 and TLR4 agonists.