Mitochondrial PGAM5-Drp1 signaling regulates the metabolic reprogramming of macrophages and regulates the induction of inflammatory responses.

Macrophages play a critical role in the regulation of inflammation and tissue homeostasis. In addition to their vital functions for cell survival and physiology, mitochondria play a crucial role in innate immunity as a platform for the induction of inflammatory responses by regulating cell signaling and dynamics. Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) plays a role in the induction of inflammatory responses and the subsequent development of various diseases. PGAM5 (phosphoglycerate mutase member 5) is a mitochondrial outer membrane phosphatase that dephosphorylates its substrate, Drp1. Previous studies showed that PGAM5 regulates the phosphorylation of Drp1 for the activation of NKT cells and T cells. However, it is not clear how PGAM5 regulates Drp1 activity for the induction of inflammation in macrophages. Here, we demonstrate that PGAM5 activity regulates the dephosphorylation of Drp1 in macrophages, leading to the induction of proinflammatory responses in macrophages. In TLR signaling, PGAM5 regulates the expression and production of inflammatory cytokines by regulating the activation of downstream signaling pathways, including the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. Upon LPS stimulation, PGAM5 interacts with Drp1 to form a complex, leading to the production of mtROS. Furthermore, PGAM5-Drp1 signaling promotes the polarization of macrophages toward a proinflammatory phenotype. Our study further demonstrates that PGAM5-Drp1 signaling promotes metabolic reprogramming by upregulating glycolysis and mitochondrial metabolism in macrophages. Altogether, PGAM5 signaling is a linker between alterations in Drp1-mediated mitochondrial dynamics and inflammatory responses in macrophages and may be a target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

MicroRNA-22 Regulates the Pro-inflammatory Responses and M1 Polarization of Macrophages by Targeting GLUT1 and 4-1BBL.

Many microRNAs (miRNAs) are selectively expressed in mammalian immune cells and have been linked to immune responses in host defense and autoimmune disease. In macrophages, miRNAs regulate cell metabolism by repressing the expression of genes such as transcription factors, enzymes, and metabolism-related molecules, as well as the expression of genes that impact inflammatory responses and phenotype determination. Previous studies showed that miR-22 plays a role in a variety of biological processes, such as cancer cell growth, cell survival, and cell expansion. In CD4 + T cells of inflammatory bowel disease patients, miR-22 is upregulated and regulates inflammasome-mediated responses. However, it has not yet been determined how miR-22 contributes to the activation of innate immune cells. In this study, we identified a mechanism of toll-like receptors- (TLR-) dependent miR-22 induction that regulates the downstream signaling pathway linking inflammatory responses and macrophage polarization. MiR-22 is induced via TLR-signaling, which regulates the induction of Slc2a1 (glucose transporter 1 and Glut1) and Tnfsf9 (tumor necrosis factor 9, 4-1BB ligand, and 4-1BBL) mRNAs that contribute to sustained inflammatory responses and the polarization of macrophages. Our observations support further efforts to explore a potential therapeutic strategy using miR-22 for the modulation of excessive macrophage activation for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

4-1BBL Regulates the Polarization of Macrophages, and Inhibition of 4-1BBL Signaling Alleviates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis.

4-1BBL, a member of the TNF superfamily, regulates the sustained production of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages triggered by TLR signaling. In this study, we have investigated the role of 4-1BBL in macrophage metabolism and polarization and in skin inflammation using a model of imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice. Genetic ablation or blocking of 4-1BBL signaling by Ab or 4-1BB-Fc alleviated the pathology of psoriasis by regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines associated with macrophage activation and regulated the polarization of macrophages in vitro. We further linked this result with macrophage by finding that 4-1BBL expression during the immediate TLR response was dependent on glycolysis, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and fatty acid metabolism, whereas the late-phase 4-1BBL-mediated sustained inflammatory response was dependent on glycolysis and fatty acid synthesis. Correlating with this, administration of a fatty acid synthase inhibitor, cerulenin, also alleviated the pathology of psoriasis. We further found that 4-1BBL-mediated psoriasis development is independent of its receptor 4-1BB, as a deficiency of 4-1BB augmented the severity of psoriasis linked to a reduced regulatory T cell population and increased IL-17A expression in γδ T cells. Additionally, coblocking of 4-1BBL signaling and IL-17A activity additively ameliorated psoriasis. Taken together, 4-1BBL signaling regulates macrophage polarization and contributes to imiquimod-induced psoriasis by sustaining inflammation, providing a possible avenue for psoriasis treatment in patients.

The protein tyrosine kinase SYK regulates the alternative p38 activation in liver during acute liver inflammation.

Two distinct p38 signaling pathways, classical and alternative, have been identified to regulate inflammatory responses in host defense and disease development. The role of alternative p38 activation in liver inflammation is elusive, while classical p38 signaling in hepatocytes plays a role in regulating the induction of cell death in autoimmune-mediated acute liver injury. In this study, we found that a mutation of alternative p38 in mice augmented the severity of acute liver inflammation. Moreover, TNF-induced hepatocyte death was augmented by a mutation of alternative p38, suggesting that alternative p38 signaling in hepatocytes contributed more significantly to the pathology of acute liver injury. Furthermore, SYK-Vav-1 signaling regulates alternative p38 activation and the downregulation of cell death in hepatocytes. Therefore, it is suggested that alternative p38 signaling in the liver plays a critical role in the induction and subsequent pathological changes of acute liver injury. Collectively, our results imply that p38 signaling in hepatocytes plays a crucial role to prevent excessive liver injury by regulating the induction of cell death and inflammation.

Regulation of NKT cell-mediated immune responses to tumours and liver inflammation by mitochondrial PGAM5-Drp1 signalling.

The receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) plays crucial roles in programmed necrosis and innate inflammatory responses. However, a little is known about the involvement of RIPK3 in NKT cell-mediated immune responses. Here, we demonstrate that RIPK3 plays an essential role in NKT cell function via activation of the mitochondrial phosphatase phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5). RIPK3-mediated activation of PGAM5 promotes the expression of cytokines by facilitating nuclear translocation of NFAT and dephosphorylation of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), a GTPase is essential for mitochondrial homoeostasis. Ripk3(-/-) mice show reduced NKT cell responses to metastatic tumour cells, and both deletion of RIPK3 and pharmacological inhibition of Drp1 protects mice from NKT cell-mediated induction of acute liver damage. Collectively, the results identify a crucial role for RIPK3-PGAM5-Drp1/NFAT signalling in NKT cell activation, and further suggest that RIPK3-PGAM5 signalling may mediate crosstalk between mitochondrial function and immune signalling.

ROCK inhibition enhances microRNA function by promoting deadenylation of targeted mRNAs via increasing PAIP2 expression.

The reduced expression levels and functional impairment of global miRNAs are related to various human diseases, including cancers. However, relatively little is known about how global miRNA function may be upregulated. Here, we report that global miRNA function can be enhanced by Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors. The regulation of miRNA function by ROCK inhibitors is mediated, at least in part, by poly(A)-binding protein-interacting protein 2 (PAIP2), which enhances poly(A)-shortening of miRNA-targeted mRNAs and leads to global upregulation of miRNA function. In the presence of a ROCK inhibitor, PAIP2 expression is enhanced by the transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4A) through increased ROCK1 nuclear localization and enhanced ROCK1 association with HNF4A. Our data reveal an unexpected role of ROCK1 as a cofactor of HNF4A in enhancing PAIP2 transcription. ROCK inhibitors may be useful for the various pathologies associated with the impairment of global miRNA function.

Tissue-Specific Regulation of p38α-Mediated Inflammation in Con A-Induced Acute Liver Damage.

Because p38α plays a critical role in inflammation, it has been an attractive target for the development of anti-inflammation therapeutics. However, p38α inhibitors showed side effects, including severe liver toxicity, that often prevailed over the benefits in clinical studies, and the mechanism of toxicity is not clear. In this study, we demonstrate that p38α regulates the inflammatory responses in acute liver inflammation in a tissue-specific manner, and liver toxicity by p38α inhibitors may be a result of the inhibition of protective activity of p38α in the liver. Genetic ablation of p38α in T and NKT cells protected mice from liver injury in Con A-induced liver inflammation, whereas liver-specific deletion of p38α aggravated liver pathology. We found that p38α deficiency in the liver increased the expression of chemokines to recruit more inflammatory cells, indicating that p38α in the liver plays a protective anti-inflammatory role during acute liver inflammation. Therefore, our results suggest that p38α regulates the inflammatory responses in a tissue-specific manner, and that the tissue-specific p38α targeting strategies can be used for the development of an effective anti-inflammation treatment with an improved side-effect profile.

Inhibition of 4-1BBL-regulated TLR response in macrophages ameliorates endotoxin-induced sepsis in mice.

Activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling rapidly induces the expression of inflammatory genes, which is persistent for a defined period of time. However, uncontrolled and excessive inflammation may lead to the development of diseases. 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) plays an essential role in sustaining the expression of inflammatory cytokines by interacting with TLRs during macrophage activation. Here, we show that inhibition of 4-1BBL signaling reduced the inflammatory responses in macrophages and ameliorated endotoxin-induced sepsis in mice. A 4-1BB-Fc fusion protein significantly reduced TNF production in macrophages by blocking the oligomerization of TLR4 and 4-1BBL. Administration of 4-1BB-Fc suppressed LPS-induced sepsis by reducing TNF production, and the coadministration of anti-TNF and 4-1BB-Fc provided better protection against LPS-induced sepsis. Taken together, these observations suggest that inhibition of the TLR/4-1BBL complex formation may be highly efficient in protecting against continued inflammation, and that 4-1BB-Fc could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

The TNF family member 4-1BBL sustains inflammation by interacting with TLR signaling components during late-phase activation.

Activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-dependent signaling leads to the expression of genes encoding proinflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and this proinflammatory gene expression is sustained for the duration of the inflammatory response. TLR4-mediated inflammation, which occurs in two phases, depends on the TNF family member 4-1BB ligand (4-1BBL) to sustain TNF-α production during late-phase signaling. We showed that Toll-interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing adaptor protein (TIRAP) and the kinase IRAK2 interacted with 4-1BBL to mediate late-phase TLR4 signaling. Expression of 4-1bbl depended on early TLR4 signaling that also induced Tnf expression, and 4-1BBL translocated to the plasma membrane, where it interacted with TLR4 to mediate late-phase signaling. TLR4-4-1BBL-mediated signaling depended on TIRAP and IRAK2, as well as a complex consisting of the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF6 (TNF receptor-associated factor 6), the kinase TAK1 (transforming growth factor-ß-activated kinase 1), and the adaptor protein TAB1 (TAK-binding protein 1). Inhibition of this late-phase pathway reduced the extent of TNF-α production by mouse macrophages exposed to the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and ameliorated LPS-induced sepsis in mice. Together, these data suggest that TIRAP and IRAK2 are critical for the sustained inflammatory response that is mediated by late-phase signaling by the TLR-4-1BBL complex.

Unique haploinsufficient role of the microRNA-processing molecule Dicer1 in a murine colitis-associated tumorigenesis model.

A widespread downregulated expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) is commonly observed in human cancers. Similarly, deregulated expression of miRNA-processing pathway components, which results in the reduction of global miRNA expression, may also be associated with tumorigenesis. Here, we show that specific ablation of Dicer1 in intestinal epithelial cells accelerates intestinal inflammation-associated tumorigenesis. This effect was apparent only when a single copy of Dicer1 was deleted, but not with complete Dicer1 ablation. DICER expression and subsequent mature miRNA levels were inversely correlated with the number of intact Dicer1 alleles. Because the expression levels of DICER were retained in tumors and its surrounding tissues even after induction of colitis-associated tumors, the effects of Dicer1 deletion were cell-autonomous. Although the expression levels of representative oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes were in most cases inversely correlated with the expression levels of DICER, some genes were not affected by Dicer1 deletion. Thus, deregulating the delicate balance between the expression levels of tumor-promoting and -suppressive genes may be crucial for tumorigenesis in this unique haploinsufficient case.

Activation of p38α in T cells regulates the intestinal host defense against attaching and effacing bacterial infections.

Intestinal infections by attaching and effacing (A/E) bacterial pathogens cause severe colitis and bloody diarrhea. Although p38α in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) plays an important role in promoting protection against A/E bacteria by regulating T cell recruitment, its impact on immune responses remains unclear. In this study, we show that activation of p38α in T cells is critical for the clearance of the A/E pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. Mice deficient of p38α in T cells, but not in macrophages or dendritic cells, were impaired in clearing C. rodentium. Expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ by p38α-deficient T cells was reduced, which further reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and antimicrobial peptide by IECs and led to reduced infiltration of T cells into the infected colon. Administration of IFN-γ activated the mucosal immunity to C. rodentium infection by increasing the expression of inflammation genes and the recruitment of T cells to the site of infection. Thus, p38α contributes to host defense against A/E pathogen infection by regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines that activate host defense pathways in IECs.

The flavonoid apigenin improves glucose tolerance through inhibition of microRNA maturation in miRNA103 transgenic mice.

Polyphenols are representative bioactive substances with diverse biological effects. Here, we show that apigenin, a flavonoid, has suppressive effects on microRNA (miRNA) function. The effects were mediated by impaired maturation of a subset of miRNAs, probably through inhibition of the phosphorylation of TRBP, a component of miRNA-generating complexes via impaired mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Erk activation. While glucose intolerance was observed in miRNA103 (miR103)-overexpressing transgenic mice, administration of apigenin improved this pathogenic status likely through suppression of matured miR103 expression levels. These results suggest that apigenin may have favorable effects on the pathogenic status induced by overexpression of miRNA103, whose maturation is mediated by phosphorylated TRBP.

MicroRNA-140 acts as a liver tumor suppressor by controlling NF-κB activity by directly targeting DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) expression.

UNLABELLED: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that regulate the expression of specific target genes. While deregulated miRNA expression levels have been detected in many tumors, whether miRNA functional impairment is also involved in carcinogenesis remains unknown. We investigated whether deregulation of miRNA machinery components and subsequent functional impairment of miRNAs are involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. Among miRNA-containing ribonucleoprotein complex components, reduced expression of DDX20 was frequently observed in human hepatocellular carcinomas, in which enhanced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity is believed to be closely linked to carcinogenesis. Because DDX20 normally suppresses NF-κB activity by preferentially regulating the function of the NF-κB-suppressing miRNA-140, we hypothesized that impairment of miRNA-140 function may be involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) was identified as a direct target of miRNA-140, and increased Dnmt1 expression in DDX20-deficient cells hypermethylated the promoters of metallothionein genes, resulting in decreased metallothionein expression leading to enhanced NF-κB activity. MiRNA-140-knockout mice were prone to hepatocarcinogenesis and had a phenotype similar to that of DDX20 deficiency, suggesting that miRNA-140 plays a central role in DDX20 deficiency-related pathogenesis. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that miRNA-140 acts as a liver tumor suppressor, and that impairment of miRNA-140 function due to a deficiency of DDX20, a miRNA machinery component, could lead to hepatocarcinogenesis.

MicroRNA122 is a key regulator of α-fetoprotein expression and influences the aggressiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma.

α-fetoprotein (AFP) is not only a widely used biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance, but is also clinically recognized as linked with aggressive tumour behaviour. Here we show that deregulation of microRNA122, a liver-specific microRNA, is a cause of both AFP elevation and a more biologically aggressive phenotype in HCC. We identify CUX1, a direct target of microRNA122, as a common central mediator of these two effects. Using liver tissues from transgenic mice in which microRNA122 is functionally silenced, an orthotopic xenograft tumour model, and human clinical samples, we further demonstrate that a microRNA122/CUX1/microRNA214/ZBTB20 pathway regulates AFP expression. We also show that the microRNA122/CUX1/RhoA pathway regulates the aggressive characteristics of tumours. We conclude that microRNA122 and associated signalling proteins may represent viable therapeutic targets, and that serum AFP levels in HCC patients may be a surrogate marker for deregulated intracellular microRNA122 signalling pathways in HCC tissues.

The miR-17-92 cluster of microRNAs confers tumorigenicity by inhibiting oncogene-induced senescence.

In mammalian cells, activation of oncogenes usually triggers innate tumor-suppressing defense mechanisms, including apoptosis and senescence, which are compromised by additional mutations before cancers are developed. The miR-17-92 gene cluster, a polycistron encoding six microRNAs (miRNA), is frequently overexpressed in human cancers and has been shown to promote several aspects of oncogenic transformation, including evasion of apoptosis. In the current study, we show a new role of miR-17-92 in inhibiting oncogenic ras-induced senescence. Further dissection of the miRNA components in this cluster reveals that the miR-17/20a seed family accounts for this antisenescence activity. miR-17 and miR-20a are both necessary and sufficient for conferring resistance to ras-induced senescence by directly targeting p21(WAF1), a key effector of senescence. By contrast, these components are not essential for the ability of miR-17-92 to evade Myc-induced apoptosis. Moreover, disruption of senescence by miR-17-92 or its miR-17/20a components leads to enhanced oncogenic transformation by activated ras in primary human cells. Taken together with previous reports that miR-17-92 inhibits apoptosis by suppressing Pten via the miR-19 components, our results indicate that this miRNA cluster promotes tumorigenesis by antagonizing both tumor-suppressing mechanisms, apoptosis, and senescence, through the activities of different miRNA components encoded in this cluster.

Epithelial p38alpha controls immune cell recruitment in the colonic mucosa.

Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) compose the first barrier against microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract. Although the NF-kappaB pathway in IECs was recently shown to be essential for epithelial integrity and intestinal immune homeostasis, the roles of other inflammatory signaling pathways in immune responses in IECs are still largely unknown. Here we show that p38alpha in IECs is critical for chemokine expression, subsequent immune cell recruitment into the intestinal mucosa, and clearance of the infected pathogen. Mice with p38alpha deletion in IECs suffer from a sustained bacterial burden after inoculation with Citrobacter rodentium. These animals are normal in epithelial integrity and immune cell function, but fail to recruit CD4(+) T cells into colonic mucosal lesions. The expression of chemokines in IECs is impaired, which appears to be responsible for the impaired T cell recruitment. Thus, p38alpha in IECs contributes to the host immune responses against enteric bacteria by the recruitment of immune cells.

Distinct effects of p38alpha deletion in myeloid lineage and gut epithelia in mouse models of inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: p38Alpha is a mitogen-activated protein kinase that mediates inflammatory responses, but its role in inflammatory bowel disease is unclear. The effects of p38alpha inhibitors have been inconsistent in animal models and clinical studies of inflammatory bowel disease, possibly arising from the different functions of p38alpha in different tissues or cell types. We investigated the effects of p38alpha inhibition in myeloid versus colonic epithelium. METHODS: We studied mice with myeloid cell-specific and intestinal epithelial cell-specific disruption of p38alpha (LtrLys(Cre)-p38alpha(Delta/Delta) mice and Villin(Cre)-p38alpha(Delta/Delta) mice), as well as p38beta, gamma, and delta knockout. Colitis was induced using dextran sodium sulfate or trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). RESULTS: Mice with myeloid cell-specific deletion of p38alpha had less inflammation and an improved disease condition compared with wild-type mice, whereas mice with intestinal epithelial cell-specific deletion of p38alpha had increased progression of colitis that resulted from disrupted intestinal epithelial homeostasis. The distinct effects of p38alpha disruption in different tissue types might underlie the unsuccessful therapeutic application of p38 inhibitors to colitis. We found that a gamma-secretase inhibitor, which functions opposite that of a p38 inhibitor in the regulation of intestinal epithelial homeostasis, can significantly improve the effects of a p38 inhibitor in reducing colitis. CONCLUSIONS: p38Alpha has distinct functions in mouse myeloid cells versus colonic epithelium; these differences should be taken into consideration in defining the role of p38alpha in inflammation and developing p38 inhibitors as therapeutics.

Integrated regulation of Toll-like receptor responses by Notch and interferon-gamma pathways.

Toll-like receptor (TLR) responses are regulated to avoid toxicity and achieve coordinated responses appropriate for the cell environment. We found that Notch and TLR pathways cooperated to activate canonical Notch target genes, including transcriptional repressors Hes1 and Hey1, and to increase production of canonical TLR-induced cytokines TNF, IL-6, and IL-12. Cooperation by these pathways to increase target gene expression was mediated by the Notch-pathway component and transcription factor RBP-J, which also contributed to lethality after endotoxin injection. TLR- and Notch-induced Hes1 and Hey1 attenuated IL-6 and IL-12 production. This Hes1- and Hey1-mediated feedback inhibitory loop was abrogated by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), which blocked TLR-induced activation of canonical Notch target genes by inhibiting Notch2 signaling and downstream transcription. These findings identify new immune functions for RBP-J, Hes, and Hey proteins and provide insights into mechanisms by which Notch, TLR, and IFN-gamma signals are integrated to modulate specific effector functions in macrophages.

Macrophage deletion of p38alpha partially impairs lipopolysaccharide-induced cellular activation.

The activation of p38alpha, a MAPK family member, is associated with macrophage activation by microbial pattern molecules, such as LPS. The requirement of p38alpha in inflammatory responses has been shown in a number of studies using chemical inhibitors, though the inhibitors also inhibit p38beta and perhaps some other enzymes. In this study, we used conditional knockout of p38alpha in macrophages to address the role of p38alpha in macrophage activation. We found that p38alpha deficiency causes a significant inhibition in the production of LPS-induced TNF-alpha, IL-12, and IL-18, but it has little or no effect on IL-6 or IFN-beta production. Knockout of p38alpha in macrophages did not affect LPS-induced activation of the other major signaling pathways (NF-kappaB, Jnk, and Erk), nor did it affect the transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB. It had little inhibitory effect on LPS-induced AP-1 activity, but it significantly inhibited LPS-induced C/EBP-beta and CREB activation, indicating that the role of p38alpha in cytokine production in macrophages is at least in part through its regulation of C/EBP-beta and CREB activation. In addition, we also confirmed that p38alpha is important for phagocytosis of bacteria by macrophages. Our in vivo studies with two murine models showed that p38alpha is involved in sepsis. Collectively, our data demonstrate that p38alpha is an important player in inflammatory responses.

Calcineurin negatively regulates TLR-mediated activation pathways.

In innate immunity, microbial components stimulate macrophages to produce antimicrobial substances, cytokines, other proinflammatory mediators, and IFNs via TLRs, which trigger signaling pathways activating NF-kappaB, MAPKs, and IFN response factors. We show in this study that, in contrast to its activating role in T cells, in macrophages the protein phosphatase calcineurin negatively regulates NF-kappaB, MAPKs, and IFN response factor activation by inhibiting the TLR-mediated signaling pathways. Evidence for this novel role for calcineurin was provided by the findings that these signaling pathways are activated when calcineurin is inhibited either by the inhibitors cyclosporin A or FK506 or by small interfering RNA-targeting calcineurin, and that activation of these pathways by TLR ligands is inhibited by the overexpression of a constitutively active form of calcineurin. We further found that IkappaB-alpha degradation, MAPK activation, and TNF-alpha production by FK506 were reduced in macrophages from mice deficient in MyD88, Toll/IL-1R domain-containing adaptor-inducing IFN-beta (TRIF), TLR2, or TLR4, whereas macrophages from TLR3-deficient or TLR9 mutant mice showed the same responses to FK506 as those of wild-type cells. Biochemical studies indicate that calcineurin interacts with MyD88, TRIF, TLR2, and TLR4, but not with TLR3 or TLR9. Collectively, these results suggest that calcineurin negatively regulates TLR-mediated activation pathways in macrophages by inhibiting the adaptor proteins MyD88 and TRIF, and a subset of TLRs.