A novel splice variant of interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R)-associated kinase 1 plays a negative regulatory role in Toll/IL-1R-induced inflammatory signaling

Mol Cell Biol. 2005 Aug;25(15):6521-32. doi: 10.1128/MCB.25.15.6521-6532.2005.

Abstract

The interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) is a member of the IRAK kinase family that plays a pivotal role in the Toll/IL-1 receptor (TIR) family signaling cascade. We have identified a novel splice variant, IRAK1c, which lacks a region encoded by exon 11 of the IRAK1 gene. IRAK1c expression was confirmed by both RNA and protein detection. Although both IRAK1 and IRAK1c are expressed in most tissues tested, IRAK1c is the predominant form of IRAK1 expressed in the brain. Unlike IRAK1, IRAK1c lacks kinase activity and cannot be phosphorylated by IRAK4. However, IRAK1c retains the ability to strongly interact with IRAK2, MyD88, Tollip, and TRAF6. Overexpression of IRAK1c suppressed NF-kappaB activation and blocked IL-1beta-induced IL-6 as well as lipopolysaccharide- and CpG-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha production in multiple cellular systems. Mechanistically, we provide evidence that IRAK1c functions as a dominant negative by failing to be phosphorylated by IRAK4, thus remaining associated with Tollip and blocking NF-kappaB activation. The presence of a regulated, alternative splice variant of IRAK1 that functions as a kinase-dead, dominant-negative protein adds further complexity to the variety of mechanisms that regulate TIR signaling and the subsequent inflammatory response.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Alternative Splicing*
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation / metabolism
  • Brain / enzymology
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Kinases / physiology
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Receptors, Immunologic / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Interleukin-6
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • MYD88 protein, human
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • NF-kappa B
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 6
  • TOLLIP protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Tollip protein, mouse
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Protein Kinases
  • IRAK1 protein, human
  • IRAK4 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases
  • Irak1 protein, mouse
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases