Abstract
TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) plays a key role in the regulation of innate immune responses by mediating signals from both TNF receptors (TNFRs) and interleukin-1 receptors (IL-1Rs)/Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Here, we define a new role for TRAF6 in antagonizing cell death during TNF signaling. In TRAF6-deficient 3T3 (T6-/- 3T3) cells, TNF stimulation leads to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn results in prolonged c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation and accelerated cell death. Furthermore, TNF-induced p65/RelA phosphorylation as well as transcriptional activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) was significantly downregulated in T6-/- 3T3 cells. Interestingly, TRAF6 deficiency leads to constitutive phosphorylation and inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β). Restoration of GSK3β activity through exogenous expression of a GSK3β constitutive active form rescued cell death in TRAF6-null 3T3 cells. These data suggest a role for TRAF6 in the maintenance of cell survival by regulating GSK3β activity in TNF signaling.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 730-738 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Cell Death and Differentiation |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 2008 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Acknowledgements. We thank Dr. Wen-Chen Yeh for providing TRAF2-deficient 3T3 cells, Matthew C. Walsh for providing TRAF6-/-MEFs, Dr. Toshio Kitamura for providing the Plat-E cell line, and Dr. Hong-Duk Um for providing Ref-1 antibody. This work was supported in part by the KOSEF grant M1-0641-35-0002 (SYL), by the Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD) (KRF-2006-C00309), and by NCRC program of MOST/KOSEF (Grant no. R15-2006-020-00000-0) through the Center for Cell Signaling & Drug Discovery Research at Ewha Womans University. KY was supported by BK21 fellowship.