Distinct developmental pathways generate functionally distinct populations of natural killer cells.

Natural killer (NK) cells function by eliminating virus-infected or tumor cells. Here we identified an NK-lineage-biased progenitor population, referred to as early NK progenitors (ENKPs), which developed into NK cells independently of common precursors for innate lymphoid cells (ILCPs). ENKP-derived NK cells (ENKP_NK cells) and ILCP-derived NK cells (ILCP_NK cells) were transcriptionally different. We devised combinations of surface markers that identified highly enriched ENKP_NK and ILCP_NK cell populations in wild-type mice. Furthermore, Ly49H+ NK cells that responded to mouse cytomegalovirus infection primarily developed from ENKPs, whereas ILCP_NK cells were better IFNγ producers after infection with Salmonella and herpes simplex virus. Human CD56dim and CD56bright NK cells were transcriptionally similar to ENKP_NK cells and ILCP_NK cells, respectively. Our findings establish the existence of two pathways of NK cell development that generate functionally distinct NK cell subsets in mice and further suggest these pathways may be conserved in humans.

Bone marrow plasma cells require P2RX4 to sense extracellular ATP.

Plasma cells produce large quantities of antibodies and so play essential roles in immune protection1. Plasma cells, including a long-lived subset, reside in the bone marrow where they depend on poorly defined microenvironment-linked survival signals1. We show that bone marrow plasma cells use the ligand-gated purinergic ion channel P2RX4 to sense extracellular ATP released by bone marrow osteoblasts through the gap-junction protein pannexin 3 (PANX3). Mutation of Panx3 or P2rx4 each caused decreased serum antibodies and selective loss of bone marrow plasma cells. Compared to their wild-type counterparts, PANX3-null osteoblasts secreted less extracellular ATP and failed to support plasma cells in vitro. The P2RX4-specific inhibitor 5-BDBD abrogated the impact of extracellular ATP on bone marrow plasma cells in vitro, depleted bone marrow plasma cells in vivo and reduced pre-induced antigen-specific serum antibody titre with little posttreatment rebound. P2RX4 blockade also reduced autoantibody titre and kidney disease in two mouse models of humoral autoimmunity. P2RX4 promotes plasma cell survival by regulating endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis, as short-term P2RX4 blockade caused accumulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress-associated regulatory proteins including ATF4 and B-lineage mutation of the pro-apoptotic ATF4 target Chop prevented bone marrow plasma cell demise on P2RX4 inhibition. Thus, generating mature protective and pathogenic plasma cells requires P2RX4 signalling controlled by PANX3-regulated extracellular ATP release from bone marrow niche cells.

Expression of the transcription factor Klf6 by thymic epithelial cells is required for thymus development.

Thymic epithelial cells (TEC) control T cell development and play essential roles in establishing self-tolerance. By using Foxn1-Cre-driven ablation of Klf6 gene in TEC, we identified Klf6 as a critical factor in TEC development. Klf6 deficiency resulted in a hypoplastic thymus-evident from fetal stages into adulthood-in which a dramatic increase in the frequency of apoptotic TEC was observed. Among cortical TEC (cTEC), a previously unreported cTEC population expressing the transcription factor Sox10 was relatively expanded. Within medullary TEC (mTEC), mTEC I and Tuft-like mTEC IV were disproportionately decreased. Klf6 deficiency altered chromatin accessibility and affected TEC chromatin configuration. Consistent with these defects, naïve conventional T cells and invariant natural killer T cells were reduced in the spleen. Late stages of T cell receptor-dependent selection of thymocytes were affected, and mice exhibited autoimmunity. Thus, Klf6 has a prosurvival role and affects the development of specific TEC subsets contributing to thymic function.

A Shared Regulatory Element Controls the Initiation of Tcf7 Expression During Early T Cell and Innate Lymphoid Cell Developments.

The transcription factor TCF-1 (encoded by Tcf7) plays critical roles in several lineages of hematopoietic cells. In this study, we examined the molecular basis for Tcf7 regulation in T cells, innate lymphoid cells, and migratory conventional dendritic cells that we find express Tcf7. We identified a 1 kb regulatory element crucial for the initiation of Tcf7 expression in T cells and innate lymphoid cells, but dispensable for Tcf7 expression in Tcf7-expressing dendritic cells. Within this region, we identified a Notch binding site important for the initiation of Tcf7 expression in T cells but not in innate lymphoid cells. Our work establishes that the same regulatory element is used by distinct transcriptional controllers to initiate Tcf7 expression in T cells and ILCs.

Myc controls a distinct transcriptional program in fetal thymic epithelial cells that determines thymus growth.

Interactions between thymic epithelial cells (TEC) and developing thymocytes are essential for T cell development, but molecular insights on TEC and thymus homeostasis are still lacking. Here we identify distinct transcriptional programs of TEC that account for their age-specific properties, including proliferation rates, engraftability and function. Further analyses identify Myc as a regulator of fetal thymus development to support the rapid increase of thymus size during fetal life. Enforced Myc expression in TEC induces the prolonged maintenance of a fetal-specific transcriptional program, which in turn extends the growth phase of the thymus and enhances thymic output; meanwhile, inducible expression of Myc in adult TEC similarly promotes thymic growth. Mechanistically, this Myc function is associated with enhanced ribosomal biogenesis in TEC. Our study thus identifies age-specific transcriptional programs in TEC, and establishes that Myc controls thymus size.

Identification of an Intronic Regulatory Element Necessary for Tissue-Specific Expression of Foxn1 in Thymic Epithelial Cells.

The thymus is critical for the establishment of the adaptive immune system and the development of a diverse T cell repertoire. T cell development depends upon cell-cell interactions with epithelial cells in the thymus. The thymus is composed of two different types of epithelial cells: cortical and medullary epithelial cells. Both of these express and critically depend on the transcription factor Foxn1 Foxn1 is also expressed in the hair follicle, and disruption of Foxn1 function in mice results in severe thymic developmental defects and the hairless (nude) phenotype. Despite its importance, little is known about the direct regulation of Foxn1 expression. In this study, we identify a cis-regulatory element (RE) critical for expression of Foxn1 in mouse thymic epithelial cells but dispensable for expression in hair follicles. Analysis of chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, and sequence conservation identified regions within the first intron of Foxn1 that possessed the characteristics of REs. Systematic knockout of candidate regions lead us to identify a 1.6 kb region that, when deleted, results in a near total disruption of thymus development. Interestingly, Foxn1 expression and function in the hair follicle were unaffected. RNA fluorescent in situ hybridization showed a near complete loss of Foxn1 mRNA expression in the embryonic thymic bud. Our studies have identified a genomic RE with thymic-specific control of Foxn1 gene expression.

CYLD and the NEMO Zinc Finger Regulate Tumor Necrosis Factor Signaling and Early Embryogenesis.

NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO) and cylindromatosis protein (CYLD) are intracellular proteins that regulate the NF-κB signaling pathway. Although mice with either CYLD deficiency or an alteration in the zinc finger domain of NEMO (K392R) are born healthy, we found that the combination of these two gene defects in double mutant (DM) mice is early embryonic lethal but can be rescued by the absence of TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1). Notably, NEMO was not recruited into the TNFR1 complex of DM cells, and consequently NF-κB induction by TNF was severely impaired and DM cells were sensitized to TNF-induced cell death. Interestingly, the TNF signaling defects can be fully rescued by reconstitution of DM cells with CYLD lacking ubiquitin hydrolase activity but not with CYLD mutated in TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) or NEMO binding sites. Therefore, our data demonstrate an unexpected non-catalytic function for CYLD as an adapter protein between TRAF2 and the NEMO zinc finger that is important for TNF-induced NF-κB signaling during embryogenesis.

DCIR2+ cDC2 DCs and Zbtb32 Restore CD4+ T-Cell Tolerance and Inhibit Diabetes.

During autoimmunity, the normal ability of dendritic cells (DCs) to induce T-cell tolerance is disrupted; therefore, autoimmune disease therapies based on cell types and molecular pathways that elicit tolerance in the steady state may not be effective. To determine which DC subsets induce tolerance in the context of chronic autoimmunity, we used chimeric antibodies specific for DC inhibitory receptor 2 (DCIR2) or DEC-205 to target self-antigen to CD11b(+) (cDC2) DCs and CD8(+) (cDC1) DCs, respectively, in autoimmune-prone nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. Antigen presentation by DCIR2(+) DCs but not DEC-205(+) DCs elicited tolerogenic CD4(+) T-cell responses in NOD mice. ß-Cell antigen delivered to DCIR2(+) DCs delayed diabetes induction and induced increased T-cell apoptosis without interferon-γ (IFN-γ) or sustained expansion of autoreactive CD4(+) T cells. These divergent responses were preceded by differential gene expression in T cells early after in vivo stimulation. Zbtb32 was higher in T cells stimulated with DCIR2(+) DCs, and overexpression of Zbtb32 in T cells inhibited diabetes development, T-cell expansion, and IFN-γ production. Therefore, we have identified DCIR2(+) DCs as capable of inducing antigen-specific tolerance in the face of ongoing autoimmunity and have also identified Zbtb32 as a suppressive transcription factor that controls T cell-mediated autoimmunity.

Novel INHAT repressor (NIR) is required for early lymphocyte development.

Novel inhibitor of histone acetyltransferase repressor (NIR) is a transcriptional corepressor with inhibitor of histone acetyltransferase activity and is a potent suppressor of p53. Although NIR deficiency in mice leads to early embryonic lethality, lymphoid-restricted deletion resulted in the absence of double-positive CD4(+)CD8(+) thymocytes, whereas bone-marrow-derived B cells were arrested at the B220(+)CD19(-) pro-B-cell stage. V(D)J recombination was preserved in NIR-deficient DN3 double-negative thymocytes, suggesting that NIR does not affect p53 function in response to physiologic DNA breaks. Nevertheless, the combined deficiency of NIR and p53 provided rescue of DN3L double-negative thymocytes and their further differentiation to double- and single-positive thymocytes, whereas B cells in the marrow further developed to the B220(+)CD19(+) pro-B-cell stage. Our results show that NIR cooperate with p53 to impose checkpoint for the generation of mature B and T lymphocytes.

The deubiquitinating enzyme CYLD controls apical docking of basal bodies in ciliated epithelial cells.

CYLD is a tumour suppressor gene mutated in familial cylindromatosis, a genetic disorder leading to the development of skin appendage tumours. It encodes a deubiquitinating enzyme that removes Lys63- or linear-linked ubiquitin chains. CYLD was shown to regulate cell proliferation, cell survival and inflammatory responses, through various signalling pathways. Here we show that CYLD localizes at centrosomes and basal bodies via interaction with the centrosomal protein CAP350 and demonstrate that CYLD must be both at the centrosome and catalytically active to promote ciliogenesis independently of NF-κB. In transgenic mice engineered to mimic the smallest truncation found in cylindromatosis patients, CYLD interaction with CAP350 is lost disrupting CYLD centrosome localization, which results in cilia formation defects due to impairment of basal body migration and docking. These results point to an undiscovered regulation of ciliogenesis by Lys63 ubiquitination and provide new perspectives regarding CYLD function that should be considered in the context of cylindromatosis.

Interleukin-2-mediated inhibition of dendritic cell development correlates with decreased CD135 expression and increased monocyte/macrophage precursors.

We have previously shown that interleukin-2 (IL-2) inhibits dendritic cell (DC) development from mouse bone marrow (BM) precursors stimulated with the ligand for FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 receptor (Flt3L), and have provided evidence that this inhibition occurs at the monocyte DC precursor stage of DC development. Here, we explored the mechanism of IL-2-mediated inhibition of DC development. First, we showed that these in vitro cultures accurately model DCs that develop in vivo by comparing gene and protein expression of the three main Flt3L-induced DC subsets from the BM, CD11b(+) and CD24(+) conventional DCs (cDCs) and plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) with their respective ex vivo spleen DC subsets (CD11b(+), CD8(+) and pDCs). Next, gene expression changes were quantified in Flt3L DC subsets that developed in the presence of IL-2. These changes included increased expression of Bcl2l11, which encodes the apoptosis-inducing protein Bim, and decreased expression of Flt3 (CD135), the receptor that initiates DC development. Interleukin-2 also significantly reduced Flt3 protein expression on all three Flt3L DC subsets, and attenuated Flt3L-induced STAT3 phosphorylation in DCs. Based on these data, we hypothesized that decreased Flt3 signalling may divert BM precursors down monocyte and macrophage lineages. Indeed, addition of IL-2 led to increases in Flt3(-) cells, including cKit(+) Ly6C(+) CD11b(-) populations consistent with the recently identified committed monocyte/macrophage progenitor. Therefore, IL-2 can inhibit DC development via decreased signalling through Flt3 and increased monocyte/macrophage development.

CD8+ dendritic cell-mediated tolerance of autoreactive CD4+ T cells is deficient in NOD mice and can be corrected by blocking CD40L.

DCs are important mediators of peripheral tolerance for the prevention of autoimmunity. Chimeric αDEC-205 antibodies with attached antigens allow in vivo antigen-specific stimulation of T cells by CD8(+) DCs, resulting in tolerance in nonautoimmune mice. However, it is not clear whether DC-mediated tolerance induction occurs in the context of ongoing autoimmunity. We assessed the role of CD8(+) DCs in stimulation of autoreactive CD4(+) T cells in the NOD mouse model of type 1 diabetes. Targeting of antigen to CD8(+) DCs via αDEC-205 led to proliferation and expansion of ß-cell specific BDC2.5 T cells. These T cells also produced IL-2 and IFN-γ and did not up-regulate FoxP3, consistent with an activated rather than tolerant phenotype. Similarly, endogenous BDC peptide-reactive T cells, identified with I-A(g7) tetramers, did not become tolerant after antigen delivery via αDEC-205: no deletion or Treg induction was observed. We observed that CD8(+) DCs from NOD mice expressed higher surface levels of CD40 than CD8(+) DCs from C57BL/6 mice. Blockade of CD40-CD40L interactions reduced the number of BDC2.5 T cells remaining in mice, 10 days after antigen targeting to CD8 DCs, and blocked IFN-γ production by BDC2.5 T cells. These data indicate that the ability of autoreactive CD4(+) T cells to undergo tolerance mediated by CD8(+) DCs is defective in NOD mice and that blocking CD40-CD40L interactions can restore tolerance induction.

Antibody deficiency associated with an inherited autosomal dominant mutation in TWEAK.

Mutations in the TNF family of proteins have been associated with inherited forms of immune deficiency. Using an array-based sequencing assay, we identified an autosomal-dominant deficiency in TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK; TNFSF12) in a kindred with recurrent infection and impaired antibody responses to protein and polysaccharide vaccines. This mutation occurs in the sixth exon of TWEAK and results in the amino acid substitution R145C within the conserved TNF-homology domain of the full-length protein. TWEAK mutant protein formed high molecular weight aggregates under nonreducing conditions, suggesting an increased propensity for intermolecular interactions. As a result, mutant TWEAK associated with B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) protein and down-regulated the BAFF-mediated activation of the noncanonical NF-κB pathway through inhibition of p100 processing to p52, resulting in inhibition of BAFF-dependent B-cell survival and proliferation. As BAFF mediates T-cell-independent isotype switching and B-cell survival, our data implicate TWEAK as a disease-susceptibility gene for a humoral immunodeficiency.

Defective nuclear IKKα function in patients with ectodermal dysplasia with immune deficiency.

Ectodermal dysplasia with immune deficiency (EDI) is an immunological and developmental disorder caused by alterations in the gene encoding NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO; also known as IκB kinase γ subunit [IKKγ]). Missense mutations in the gene encoding NEMO are associated with reduced signal-induced nuclear translocation of NF-κB proteins, resulting in defective expression of NF-κB target genes. Here, we report 2 unrelated male patients with EDI, both of whom have normal NEMO coding sequences, but exhibit a marked reduction in expression of full-length NEMO protein. TLR4 stimulation of APCs from these patients induced normal cytoplasmic activation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB. However, cells deficient in full-length NEMO were defective in expression of NF-κB-regulated cytokines, such as IL-12, suggesting a downstream defect in chromatin accessibility for NF-κB transcription factors. TLR4-stimulated APCs from the patients were defective in IKKα-dependent H3 histone phosphorylation at the IL-12 promoter and recruitment of NF-κB heterodimers RelA and cRel to the promoter. Expression of a super-active form of IKKα restored IL-12 production in a NEMO knockdown human monocytic cell line following LPS treatment. Our findings suggest that NEMO regulates the nuclear function of IKKα and offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying diminished NF-κB signaling in patients with EDI.

NADPH oxidase-2 derived ROS dictates murine DC cytokine-mediated cell fate decisions during CD4 T helper-cell commitment.

NADPH oxidase-2 (Nox2)/gp91(phox) and p47(phox) deficient mice are prone to hyper-inflammatory responses suggesting a paradoxical role for Nox2-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) as anti-inflammatory mediators. The molecular basis for this mode of control remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that IFNγ/LPS matured p47(phox-/-)-ROS deficient mouse dendritic cells (DC) secrete more IL-12p70 than similarly treated wild type DC, and in an in vitro co-culture model IFNγ/LPS matured p47(phox-/-) DC bias more ovalbumin-specific CD4(+) T lymphocytes toward a Th1 phenotype than wild type (WT) DC through a ROS-dependent mechanism linking IL-12p70 expression to regulation of p38-MAPK activation. The Nox2-dependent ROS production in DC negatively regulates proinflammatory IL-12 expression in DC by constraining p38-MAPK activity. Increasing endogenous H(2)O(2) attenuates p38-MAPK activity in IFNγ/LPS stimulated WT and p47(phox-/-) DC, which suggests that endogenous Nox 2-derived ROS functions as a secondary messenger in the activated p38-MAPK signaling pathway during IL-12 expression. These findings indicate that ROS, generated endogenously by innate and adaptive immune cells, can function as important secondary messengers that can regulate cytokine production and immune cell cross-talk to control during the inflammatory response.

The deubiquitinase CYLD targets Smad7 protein to regulate transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) signaling and the development of regulatory T cells.

CYLD is a lysine 63-deubiquitinating enzyme that inhibits NF-κB and JNK signaling. Here, we show that CYLD knock-out mice have markedly increased numbers of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in peripheral lymphoid organs but not in the thymus. In vitro stimulation of CYLD-deficient naive T cells with anti-CD3/28 in the presence of TGF-ß led to a marked increase in the number of Foxp3-expressing T cells when compared with stimulated naive control CD4(+) cells. Under endogenous conditions, CYLD formed a complex with Smad7 that facilitated CYLD deubiquitination of Smad7 at lysine 360 and 374 residues. Moreover, this site-specific ubiquitination of Smad7 was required for activation of TAK1 and p38 kinases. Finally, knockdown of Smad7 or inhibition of p38 activity in primary T cells impaired Treg differentiation. Together, our results show that CYLD regulates TGF-ß signaling function in T cells and the development of Tregs through deubiquitination of Smad7.

Dendritic cells from humans with hypomorphic mutations in IKBKG/NEMO have impaired mitogen-activated protein kinase activity.

The covalent attachment of lysine 63-linked polyubiquitin to the zinc-finger domain of IKBKG/NEMO (also known as IKKγ) is necessary for full activation of NF-κB. Impairments of this biochemical mechanism explain the deleterious effects of hypomorphic NEMO mutations on NF-κB signaling function in humans suffering from X-linked ectodermal dysplasia and immunodeficiency. Nevertheless, the biological function of the NEMO zinc-finger domain in the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity is poorly understood. Here we show that dendritic cells from patients with EDI caused by a C-terminal E391X deletion of the zinc finger of NEMO exhibit impaired MAPK activation in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Interestingly, DCs from patients with a C417R missense mutation within the zinc finger domain of NEMO in which ubiquitination of NEMO is preserved are also defective in JNK and ERK activity following LPS stimulation. Our findings indicate that the structural integrity of the NEMO ZF domain is more important than its polyubiquitination for full activation of the MAPK. Furthermore, phosphorylation and polyubiquitination of upstream TAK1 were significantly reduced in the E391X zinc-finger deleted patients, indicating that the NEMO zinc finger may play an important role in assembling the proximal signaling complex for MAPK activation.

Aurora B interacts with NIR-p53, leading to p53 phosphorylation in its DNA-binding domain and subsequent functional suppression.

NIR (novel INHAT repressor) is a transcriptional co-repressor with inhibitor of histone acetyltransferase (INHAT) activity and has previously been shown to physically interact with and suppress p53 transcriptional activity and function. However, the mechanism by which NIR suppresses p53 is not completely understood. Using a proteomic approach, we have identified the Aurora kinase B as a novel binding partner of NIR. We show that Aurora B, NIR and p53 exist in a protein complex in which Aurora B binds to NIR, thus also indirectly associates with p53. Functionally, overexpression of Aurora B or NIR suppresses p53 transcriptional activity, and depletion of Aurora B or NIR causes p53-dependent apoptosis and cell growth arrest, due to the up-regulation of p21 and Bax. We then demonstrate that Aurora B phosphorylates multiple sites in the p53 DNA-binding domain in vitro, and this phosphorylation probably also occurs in cells. Importantly, the Aurora B-mediated phosphorylation on Ser(269) or Thr(284) significantly compromises p53 transcriptional activity. Taken together, these results provide novel insight into NIR-mediated p53 suppression and also suggest an additional way for p53 regulation.

Non-canonical NF-κB activation and abnormal B cell accumulation in mice expressing ubiquitin protein ligase-inactive c-IAP2.

Chromosomal translocations between loci encoding MALT1 and c-IAP2 are common in MALT lymphomas. The resulting fusion proteins lack the c-IAP2 RING domain, the region responsible for its ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) activity. Ectopic expression of the fusion protein activates the canonical NF-κB signaling cascade, but how it does so is controversial and how it promotes MALT lymphoma is unknown. Considering recent reports implicating c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 E3 activity in repression of non-canonical NF-κB signaling, we asked if the c-IAP2/MALT fusion protein can initiate non-canonical NF-κB activation. Here we show that in addition to canonical activation, the fusion protein stabilizes NIK and activates non-canonical NF-κB. Canonical but not non-canonical activation depended on MALT1 paracaspase activity, and expression of E3-inactive c-IAP2 activated non-canonical NF-κB. Mice in which endogenous c-IAP2 was replaced with an E3-inactive mutant accumulated abnormal B cells with elevated non-canonical NF-κB and had increased numbers of B cells with a marginal zone phenotype, gut-associated lymphoid hyperplasia, and other features of MALT lymphoma. Thus, the c-IAP2/MALT1 fusion protein activates NF-κB by two distinct mechanisms, and loss of c-IAP2 E3 activity in vivo is sufficient to induce abnormalities common to MALT lymphoma.

Optineurin negatively regulates TNFalpha- induced NF-kappaB activation by competing with NEMO for ubiquitinated RIP.

NF-kappaB essential modulator (NEMO), the regulatory subunit of the IkappaB kinase (IKK) that activates NF-kappaB, is essential for NF-kappaB activation. NEMO was recently found to contain a region that preferentially binds Lys (K)63-linked but not K48-linked polyubiquitin (polyUb) chains, and the ability of NEMO to bind to K63-linked polyUb RIP (receptor-interacting protein) is necessary for efficient tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-induced NF-kappaB activation. Optineurin is a homolog of NEMO, and mutations in the optineurin gene are found in a subset of patients with glaucoma, a neurodegenerative disease involving the loss of retinal ganglion cells. Although optineurin shares considerable homology with NEMO, in resting cells, it is not present in the high-molecular-weight complex containing IKKalpha and IKKbeta, and optineurin cannot substitute for NEMO in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NF-kappaB activation. On the other hand, the overexpression of optineurin blocks the protective effect of E3-14.7K on cell death caused by the overexpression of TNFalpha receptor 1 (TNFR1). Here we show that optineurin has a K63-linked polyUb-binding region similar to that of NEMO, and like NEMO, it bound K63- but not K48-linked polyUb. Optineurin competitively antagonized NEMO's binding to polyUb RIP, and its overexpression inhibited TNFalpha-induced NF-kappaB activation. This competition occurs at physiologic protein levels because microRNA silencing of optineurin resulted in markedly enhanced TNFalpha-induced NF-kappaB activity. These results reveal a physiologic role for optineurin in dampening TNFalpha signaling, and this role might provide an explanation for its association with glaucoma.