Mice deficient in NKLAM have attenuated inflammatory cytokine production in a Sendai virus pneumonia model

PLoS One. 2019 Sep 20;14(9):e0222802. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222802. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Recent studies have begun to elucidate a role for E3 ubiquitin ligases as important mediators of the innate immune response. Our previous work defined a role for the ubiquitin ligase natural killer lytic-associated molecule (NKLAM/RNF19b) in mouse and human innate immunity. Here, we present novel data describing a role for NKLAM in regulating the immune response to Sendai virus (SeV), a murine model of paramyxoviral pneumonia. NKLAM expression was significantly upregulated by SeV infection. SeV-infected mice that are deficient in NKLAM demonstrated significantly less weight loss than wild type mice. In vivo, Sendai virus replication was attenuated in NKLAM-/- mice. Autophagic flux and the expression of autophagy markers LC3 and p62/SQSTM1 were also less in NKLAM-/- mice. Using flow cytometry, we observed less neutrophils and macrophages in the lungs of NKLAM-/- mice during SeV infection. Additionally, phosphorylation of STAT1 and NFκB p65 was lower in NKLAM-/- than wild type mice. The dysregulated phosphorylation profile of STAT1 and NFκB in NKLAM-/- mice correlated with decreased expression of numerous proinflammatory cytokines that are regulated by STAT1 and/or NFκB. The lack of NKLAM and the resulting attenuated immune response is favorable to NKLAM-/- mice receiving a low dose of SeV; however, at a high dose of virus, NKLAM-/- mice succumbed to the infection faster than wild type mice. In conclusion, our novel results indicate that NKLAM plays a role in regulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines during viral infection.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Macrophages / virology
  • Membrane Proteins / deficiency*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Mice, 129 Strain
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phosphorylation
  • Pneumonia / genetics
  • Pneumonia / metabolism*
  • Pneumonia / virology
  • Respirovirus Infections / genetics
  • Respirovirus Infections / metabolism*
  • Respirovirus Infections / virology
  • Sendai virus / physiology
  • Sequestosome-1 Protein / genetics
  • Sequestosome-1 Protein / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor RelA / genetics
  • Transcription Factor RelA / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Membrane Proteins
  • NK lytic-associated molecule
  • Sequestosome-1 Protein
  • Sqstm1 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factor RelA