NDR1 protein kinase promotes IL-17- and TNF-α-mediated inflammation by competitively binding TRAF3

EMBO Rep. 2017 Apr;18(4):586-602. doi: 10.15252/embr.201642140. Epub 2017 Feb 20.

Abstract

Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is an important inducer of tissue inflammation and is involved in numerous autoimmune diseases. However, how its signal transduction is regulated is not well understood. Here, we report that nuclear Dbf2-related kinase 1 (NDR1) functions as a positive regulator of IL-17 signal transduction and IL-17-induced inflammation. NDR1 deficiency or knockdown inhibits the IL-17-induced phosphorylation of p38, ERK1/2, and p65 and the expression of chemokines and cytokines, whereas the overexpression of NDR1 promotes IL-17-induced signaling independent of its kinase activity. Mechanistically, NDR1 interacts with TRAF3 and prevents its binding to IL-17R, which promotes the formation of an IL-17R-Act1-TRAF6 complex and downstream signaling. Consistent with this, IL-17-induced inflammation is significantly reduced in NDR1-deficient mice, and NDR1 deficiency significantly protects mice from MOG-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis likely by its inhibition of IL-17-mediated signaling pathway. NDR1 expression is increased in the colons of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. Taken together, these findings suggest that NDR1 is involved in the development of autoimmune diseases.

Keywords: IL‐17; NDR1; TRAF3; inflammation.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Colitis / genetics
  • Colitis / metabolism
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / genetics
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / metabolism
  • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / pathology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism*
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 3 / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Interleukin-17
  • TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 3
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • NDR1 protein kinase, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases