SHARPIN is a component of the NF-κB-activating linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex

Cpdm (chronic proliferative dermatitis) mice develop chronic dermatitis and an immunodeficiency with increased serum IgM, symptoms that resemble those of patients with X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome and hypohydrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XHM-ED), which is caused by mutations in NEMO (NF-κB essential modulator; also known as IKBKG). Spontaneous null mutations in the Sharpin (SHANK-associated RH domain interacting protein in postsynaptic density) gene are responsible for the cpdm phenotype in mice. SHARPIN shows significant similarity to HOIL-1L (also known as RBCK1), a component of linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC), which induces NF-κB activation through conjugation of linear polyubiquitin chains to NEMO. Here, we identify SHARPIN as an additional component of LUBAC. SHARPIN-containing complexes can linearly ubiquitinate NEMO and activated NF-κB. Thus, we re-define LUBAC as a complex containing SHARPIN, HOIL-1L, and HOIP (also known as RNF31). Deletion of SHARPIN drastically reduced the amount of LUBAC, which resulted in attenuated TNF-α- and CD40-mediated activation of NF-κB in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) or B cells from cpdm mice. Considering the pleomorphic phenotype of cpdm mice, these results confirm the predicted role of LUBAC-mediated linear polyubiquitination in NF-κB activation induced by various stimuli, and strongly suggest the involvement of LUBAC-induced NF-κB activation in various disorders.     

FAS and NF-κB signalling modulate dependence of lung cancers on mutant EGFR

Human lung adenocarcinomas with activating mutations in EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) often respond to treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), but the magnitude of tumour regression is variable and transient. This heterogeneity in treatment response could result from genetic modifiers that regulate the degree to which tumour cells are dependent on mutant EGFR. Through a pooled RNA interference screen, we show that knockdown of FAS and several components of the NF-κB pathway specifically enhanced cell death induced by the EGFR TKI erlotinib in EGFR-mutant lung cancer cells. Activation of NF-κB through overexpression of c-FLIP or IKK (also known as CFLAR and IKBKB, respectively), or silencing of IκB (also known as NFKBIA), rescued EGFR-mutant lung cancer cells from EGFR TKI treatment. Genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of NF-κB enhanced erlotinib-induced apoptosis in erlotinib-sensitive and erlotinib-resistant EGFR-mutant lung cancer models. Increased expression of the NF-κB inhibitor IκB predicted for improved response and survival in EGFR-mutant lung cancer patients treated with EGFR TKI. These data identify NF-κB as a potential companion drug target, together with EGFR, in EGFR-mutant lung cancers and provide insight into the mechanisms by which tumour cells escape from oncogene dependence.     

Dual regulatory effects of resveratrol on activation of NF-κB and cell proliferation in human embryonal kidney 293 cells

Resveratrol (3,4‘,5-trihydroxystilbene, Res), a naturally occurring polyphenol, exhibits antioxidant, antiinflammatory, potential chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties in preclinical studies. To further understand its potential clinical efficacy and safety, effect of Res at 10^-9-10^-4 mol/L on human embryonal kidney (HEK293) cell proliferation and its potential mechanism were investigated in present study. Cell viability was detected by using trypan blue dye exclusion method. Cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry with propidium iodide stain.Activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was determined by luciferase reporter gene assay using stably transfected HEK293/κB-luc cells. Secretion of human interleukin-8(hlL-8) was measured by ELISA. Our results show that HEK293 cell proliferation was significantly stimulated by 10^-7 mol/L Res after treatment for 48 hours, or by 10^-8-10^-7mol/L Res combinated with 10 ng/mL TNFα for 24 h, but was suppressed by 10^-4 mol/L Res with or without TNFα. Both endogenous and TNFα-induced NF-κB activation were downregulated by Res at 10^-7 mol/L, but were upregulated at 10^-4 mol/L. With 10^-4 mol/L Res, the content of secreted IL-8 was increased, and apoptosis rate was increased from lessthan 5 % to 10%, together with significant cell-cycle arrest in S phase. TNFα has coordinative effects with Res on HEK293 cell apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest and IL-8 secretion. These results indicate that Res promotes cell proliferation at low concentration through down-regulation of NF-κB activation in HEK293, but suppresses its growth at high concentration through up-regulation of NF-κB activation, increasing IL-8 and cell-cycle arrest. As resveratrol has dual regulatory effect on cell proliferation in vitro, comprehensive evaluation of its potential clinical utility is needed.     

Induction of human β-defensin-2 in airway epithelial cells by Streptococcus pneumoniae： involvement of IP3-dependent intracellular calcium release and NF-κB

Human β-definsin-2 （hBD-2） is mainly induced by bacterial factors and pro-inflammation mediators in epithelial cells. As the major cause of community-acquired pneumonia, whether Streptococcus pneumoniae （S. pneu-moniae） stimulation induces hBD-2 expression in airway epithelial cells is elusive. In this study, we found that S. pneumoniae stimulation induced hBD-2 expression in a time-and concentration-dependent manner in primary human airway epithelial cells. To further reveal the mechanism of S. pneumoniae inducing hBD-2, we found that S. pneumoniae stimulation activated NF-κB signaling pathway. Specific NF-κB inhibitor, PDTC, could reverse the induction of hBD-2 by S. pneumoniae. We also found that cellular inner Ca^2＋ signaling is involved in the S. pneumoniae-induced hBD-2. Taken together, our find-ings indicated that S. pneumoniae can stimulate the expression of hBD-2 in airway epithelial cells and NF-κB and inositol triphosphate-dependent intracellular calcium release is involved in this induction.