Abstract
There is growing evidence that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) bind to unconventional membrane-bound receptors in many cell types and control their key signaling activity, in both positive and negative ways. TRAFs function in a variety of biological processes in health and disease, and dysregulation of TRAF expression or activity often leads to a patho-physiological outcome. We have identified a novel attribute of TRAF2 and TRAF5 in interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor signaling in CD4+ T cells. TRAF2 and TRAF5 are highly expressed by naïve CD4+ T cells and constitutively bind to the signal-transducing receptor common chain gp130 via the C-terminal TRAF domain. The binding between TRAF and gp130 limits the early signaling activity of the IL-6 receptor complex by preventing proximal interaction of Janus kinases (JAKs) associated with gp130. In this reason, TRAF2 and TRAF5 in naïve CD4+ T cells negatively regulate IL-6-mediated activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) that is required for the development of IL-17-secreting CD4+ TH17 cells. Indeed, Traf2-knockdown in differentiating Traf5−/− CD4+ T cells strongly promotes TH17 development. Traf5−/− donor CD4+ T cells exacerbate the development of neuroinflammation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in wild-type recipient mice. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the role for TRAF2 and TRAF5 in the regulation of IL-6-driven differentiation of pro-inflammatory CD4+ T cells, especially focusing on the molecular mechanism by which TRAF2 and TRAF5 inhibit the JAK-STAT pathway that is initiated in the IL-6 receptor signaling complex.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 1986 |
Journal | Frontiers in Immunology |
Volume | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2018/08/30 |
Keywords
- IL-6
- T17
- TRAF2
- TRAF5
- autoimmunity
- inflammation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology