RESUMO
The innate immune system responds to infection and tissue damage by activating cytosolic sensory complexes called 'inflammasomes'. Cytosolic DNA is sensed by AIM2-like receptors (ALRs) during bacterial and viral infections and in autoimmune diseases. Subsequently, recruitment of the inflammasome adaptor ASC links ALRs to the activation of caspase-1. A controlled immune response is crucial for maintaining homeostasis, but the regulation of ALR inflammasomes is poorly understood. Here we identified the PYRIN domain (PYD)-only protein POP3, which competes with ASC for recruitment to ALRs, as an inhibitor of DNA virus-induced activation of ALR inflammasomes in vivo. Data obtained with a mouse model with macrophage-specific POP3 expression emphasize the importance of the regulation of ALR inflammasomes in monocytes and macrophages.
Assuntos
Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/metabolismo , Proteínas de Transporte/metabolismo , Infecções por Vírus de DNA/imunologia , Vírus de DNA/imunologia , Inflamassomos/metabolismo , Macrófagos/imunologia , Proteínas Nucleares/metabolismo , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Proteínas de Transporte/genética , Caspase 1/metabolismo , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Imunidade/genética , Interferon Tipo I/genética , Interferon Tipo I/imunologia , Interferon gama/genética , Interferon gama/imunologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Transgênicos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Complexos Multiproteicos/genética , Complexos Multiproteicos/metabolismo , Ligação Proteica/genética , Estrutura Terciária de Proteína/genética , Alinhamento de Sequência , Transgenes/genética , Proteínas Virais/genética , Homólogo LST8 da Proteína Associada a mTORRESUMO
In response to infections and tissue damage, ASC-containing inflammasome protein complexes are assembled that promote caspase-1 activation, IL-1ß and IL-18 processing and release, pyroptosis, and the release of ASC particles. However, excessive or persistent activation of the inflammasome causes inflammatory diseases. Therefore, a well-balanced inflammasome response is crucial for the maintenance of homeostasis. We show that the PYD-only protein POP1 inhibited ASC-dependent inflammasome assembly by preventing inflammasome nucleation, and consequently interfered with caspase-1 activation, IL-1ß and IL-18 release, pyroptosis, and the release of ASC particles. There is no mouse ortholog for POP1, but transgenic expression of human POP1 in monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells protected mice from systemic inflammation triggered by molecular PAMPs, inflammasome component NLRP3 mutation, and ASC danger particles. POP1 expression was regulated by TLR and IL-1R signaling, and we propose that POP1 provides a regulatory feedback loop that shuts down excessive inflammatory responses and thereby prevents systemic inflammation.