N-Myc-Interacting Protein Negatively Regulates TNF-α-Induced NF-κB Transcriptional Activity by Sequestering NF-κB/p65 in the Cytoplasm

Sci Rep. 2017 Nov 6;7(1):14579. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-15074-5.

Abstract

NF-κB is a major regulator of gene transcription involved in immune, inflammation, apoptosis and stress responses. However, the regulation of NF-κB is not completely understood. Here, we report that the N-Myc and STATs Interactor (NMI), an IFN-inducible protein, is an important negative regulator of NF-κB activity. We found that NMI negatively regulates TNF-α-induced IL-6 and IL-1β production in HeLa cells. Overexpression of NMI inhibits NF-κB transcriptional activity, in contrast, depletion of NMI by shRNA increases NF-κB transcriptional activity. Mechanistically, NMI associates with NF-κB/p65 and inhibits NF-κB/p65 nuclear translocation and thereby negatively regulates NF-κB/p65 transcriptional activity. Taken together, our results demonstrate that NMI modulates the NF-κB signaling pathway by sequestering NF-κB/p65 in the cytoplasm, resulting in reduced IL-6 and IL-1β production after TNF-α stimulation. Treatment with IFNα in the presence of NMI leads to increased apoptosis in tumor cells. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which NMI regulates NF-κB activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cytoplasm / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factor RelA / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • NMI protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha