IL-17-driven intestinal fibrosis is inhibited by Itch-mediated ubiquitination of HIC-5

Mucosal Immunol. 2018 Mar;11(2):427-436. doi: 10.1038/mi.2017.53. Epub 2017 Jun 14.

Abstract

Intestinal fibrosis is a major complication in inflammatory bowel diseases, but the regulatory mechanism that inhibits fibrosis remains unclear. Here we demonstrate that Itch-/-myofibroblasts express increased amounts of profibrotic collagen type I and α-SMA in response to IL-17. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that Itch directly binds to HIC-5 and targets it for K63-linked ubiquitination to inhibit IL-17-driven intestinal fibrosis. Reconstitution of Itch-/- myofibroblasts with wild-type Itch but not the Itch-C830A mutant normalized the expression of profibrotic genes. Similarly, shRNA-mediated inhibition of HIC-5 normalized the expression of profibrotic gene expression. Thus, we have uncovered a novel mechanism by which Itch negatively regulates intestinal fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / genetics
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Collagen Type I / genetics
  • Collagen Type I / metabolism
  • Colon / pathology*
  • Fibrosis
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / immunology*
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism*
  • Intestines / immunology
  • Intestines / pathology*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • LIM Domain Proteins / genetics
  • LIM Domain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Myofibroblasts / physiology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Actins
  • Collagen Type I
  • Interleukin-17
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • LIM Domain Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Repressor Proteins
  • TGFB1I1 protein, human
  • alpha-smooth muscle actin, mouse
  • ITCH protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases