Biology subjects

Kovarik, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Kovarik, P..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Pre-mRNA fate decision safeguards the fidelity of the inflammatory response

The fidelity of immune responses depends on a timely controlled and selective mRNA degradation that is largely driven by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs)[1, 2]. It remains unclear whether the selection of an individual mRNA molecule for degradation is governed by stochastic or directed processes. Here, we show that tristetraprolin (TTP, also known as ZFP36), an essential anti-inflammatory RBP[3], destabilizes target mRNAs via a hierarchical molecular assembly. The formation of the assembly strictly relies on the interaction of TTP with RNA. The TTP homolog ZFP36L1 exhibits similar requirements, indicating a broader relevance of this regulatory program. Unexpectedly, the assembly of the cytoplasmic mRNA-destabilization complex is licensed in the nucleus by TTP binding to pre-mRNA, while mature cytoplasmic mRNA does not constitute a de novo TTP target. Hence, the fate of an inflammation-induced mRNA is decided concomitantly with its synthesis. This decision mechanism prevents the translation of superfluous and potentially harmful inflammation mediators, ensuring an efficient cessation of the immune response, irrespective of transcriptional activity.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2022

HUWE1 controls tristetraprolin proteasomal degradation by regulating its phosphorylation

Tristetraprolin (TTP) is a critical negative immune regulator. It binds AU-rich elements in the untranslated-regions of many mRNAs encoding pro-inflammatory mediators, thereby accelerating their decay. A key but poorly understood mechanism of TTP regulation is its timely proteolytic removal: TTP is degraded by the proteasome through yet unidentified phosphorylation-controlled drivers. In this study, we set out to identify factors controlling TTP stability. Cellular assays showed that TTP is strongly lysine-ubiquitinated, which is required for its turnover. A genetic screen identified the ubiquitin E3 ligase HUWE1 as a strong regulator of TTP proteasomal degradation, which we found to control TTP stability indirectly by regulating its phosphorylation. Pharmacological assessment of multiple kinases revealed that HUWE1-regulated TTP phosphorylation and stability was independent of the previously characterized effects of MAPK-mediated S52/S178 phosphorylation. HUWE1 function was dependent on phosphatase and E3 ligase binding sites identified in the TTP C-terminus. Our findings indicate that while phosphorylation of S52/S178 is critical for TTP stabilization at earlier times after pro-inflammatory stimulation, phosphorylation of the TTP C-terminus controls its stability at later stages.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2021

The ubiquitin ligase HOIL-1L regulates immune responses by interacting with linear ubiquitin chains

The Linear Ubiquitin Assembly Complex (LUBAC), composed of HOIP, HOIL-1L and SHARPIN, promotes Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-dependent NF-{kappa}B signaling in diverse cell types. HOIL-1L contains an Npl4 Zinc Finger (NZF) domain that specifically recognizes linear ubiquitin chains, but its physiological role in vivo has remained unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the HOIL-1L NZF domain has important regulatory functions in inflammation and immune responses in mice. We generated knockin mice (Hoil-1lT20;A;R208A/T201A;R208A) expressing a HOIL-1L NZF mutant, and observed attenuated responses to TNF- and LPS-induced shock, including prolonged survival, stabilized body temperature, reduced cytokine production and liver damage markers. Cells derived from the HOIL-1L knockin mice show reduced TNF-dependent NF-{kappa}B activation and incomplete recruitment of HOIL-1L into TNF Receptor (TNFR) Complex I. We further show that the HOIL-1L-NZF domain cooperates with SHARPIN to prevent TNFR-dependent skin inflammation. Collectively, our data suggest that linear ubiquitin-chain binding by HOIL-1L regulates immune responses and inflammation in vivo.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Regulation of neutrophil NADPH oxidase by PSTPIP2 affects bone damage in murine autoinflammatory osteomyelitis

Autoinflammatory diseases are characterized by dysregulation of the innate immune system leading to spontaneous inflammation. Pstpip2cmo mouse strain is a well-characterized model of this class of disorders. Due to the mutation leading to the lack of adaptor protein PSTPIP2, these animals suffer from autoinflammatory chronic multifocal osteomyelitis similar to several human syndromes. Current evidence suggests that it is driven by hyperproduction of IL-1{beta} by neutrophil granulocytes. Here we show that in addition to IL-1{beta}, PSTPIP2 also negatively regulates ROS generation by neutrophil NADPH oxidase. Pstpip2cmo neutrophils display highly elevated ROS production in response to a range of stimuli. Inactivation of NADPH oxidase in Pstpip2cmo mice did not affect IL-1{beta} levels and the autoinflammatory process was initiated with similar kinetics. However, the bone destruction was almost completely alleviated, suggesting that dysregulated NADPH oxidase activity is a key factor promoting autoinflammatory bone damage in Pstpip2cmo mice.

immunology↗