Ymer acts as a multifunctional regulator in nuclear factor-κB and Fas signaling pathways

Mol Med. 2012 May 9;18(1):587-97. doi: 10.2119/molmed.2011.00435.

Abstract

The nuclear factor (NF)-κB family of transcription factors regulates diverse cellular functions, including inflammation, oncogenesis and apoptosis. It was reported that A20 plays a critical role in the termination of NF-κB signaling after activation. Previously, we showed that Ymer interacts and collaborates with A20, followed by degradation of receptor-interacting protein (RIP) and attenuation of NF-κB signaling. Here we show the function of Ymer in regulation of several signaling pathways including NF-κB on the basis of results obtained by using Ymer transgenic (Ymer Tg) mice. Ymer Tg mice exhibited impaired immune responses, including NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, cell proliferation and cytokine production, to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, polyI:C or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Ymer Tg mice were more resistant to LPS-induced septic shock than wild-type mice. Transgene of Ymer inhibited the onset of glomerulonephritis in lpr/lpr mice as an autoimmune disease model. In contrast to the inflammatory immune response to LPS, Fas-mediated cell death was strongly induced in liver cells of Ymer Tg mice in which Ymer is abundantly expressed. These findings suggest that Ymer acts as a regulator downstream of several receptors and that Ymer functions as a positive or negative regulator in a signaling pathway-dependent manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / pathology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / adverse effects
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Shock, Septic / chemically induced
  • Shock, Septic / genetics
  • Shock, Septic / immunology
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / metabolism
  • Thymocytes / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology
  • fas Receptor / metabolism*

Substances

  • CCDC50 protein, human
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NF-kappa B
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • fas Receptor