Limiting of the innate immune response by SF3A-dependent control of MyD88 alternative mRNA splicing

PLoS Genet. 2013 Oct;9(10):e1003855. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003855. Epub 2013 Oct 24.

Abstract

Controlling infectious disease without inducing unwanted inflammatory disease requires proper regulation of the innate immune response. Thus, innate immunity needs to be activated when needed during an infection, but must be limited to prevent damage. To accomplish this, negative regulators of innate immunity limit the response. Here we investigate one such negative regulator encoded by an alternative splice form of MyD88. MyD88 mRNA exists in two alternative splice forms: MyD88L, a long form that encodes a protein that activates innate immunity by transducing Toll-like receptor (TLR) signals; and a short form that encodes a different protein, MyD88S, that inhibits the response. We find that MyD88S levels regulate the extent of inflammatory cytokine production in murine macrophages. MyD88S mRNA levels are regulated by the SF3A and SF3B mRNA splicing complexes, and these mRNA splicing complexes function with TLR signaling to regulate MyD88S production. Thus, the SF3A mRNA splicing complex controls production of a negative regulator of TLR signaling that limits the extent of innate immune activation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics*
  • Inflammation / genetics*
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Mice
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / genetics*
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphoproteins / immunology
  • RNA Splicing Factors
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Ribonucleoprotein, U2 Small Nuclear / genetics*
  • Ribonucleoprotein, U2 Small Nuclear / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptors / genetics

Substances

  • MYD88 protein, human
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Phosphoproteins
  • RNA Splicing Factors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Ribonucleoprotein, U2 Small Nuclear
  • SF3A1 protein, human
  • SF3B1 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptors