Transcription of inflammatory genes in innate immune cells is coordinately regulated by transcription factors, including NF-κB, and chromatin modifiers. However, it remains unclear how microbial sensing initiates chromatin remodeling. Here, we show that Akirin2, an evolutionarily conserved nuclear protein, bridges NF-κB and the chromatin remodeling SWI/SNF complex by interacting with BRG1-Associated Factor 60 (BAF60) proteins as well as IκB-ζ, which forms a complex with the NF-κB p50 subunit. These interactions are essential for Toll-like receptor-, RIG-I-, and Listeria-mediated expression of proinflammatory genes including Il6 and Il12b in macrophages. Consistently, effective clearance of Listeria infection required Akirin2. Furthermore, Akirin2 and IκB-ζ recruitment to the Il6 promoter depend upon the presence of IκB-ζ and Akirin2, respectively, for regulation of chromatin remodeling. BAF60 proteins were also essential for the induction of Il6 in response to LPS stimulation. Collectively, the IκB-ζ-Akirin2-BAF60 complex physically links the NF-κB and SWI/SNF complexes in innate immune cell activation. By recruiting SWI/SNF chromatin remodellers to IκB-ζ, transcriptional coactivator for NF-κB, the conserved nuclear protein Akirin2 stimulates pro-inflammatory gene promoters in mouse macrophages during innate immune responses to viral or bacterial infection.

RNA modulating factors not only regulate multiple steps of cellular RNA metabolism, but also emerge as key effectors of the immune response against invading viral pathogens including human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). However, cellular RNA binding proteins involved in the establishment and maintenance of latent HIV-1 reservoirs have not been extensively studied. Here, we screened a panel of 62 cellular RNA binding proteins and identified NEDD4 binding protein 1 (N4BP1) as potent interferon-inducible inhibitor of HIV-1 in primary T cells and macrophages. N4BP1 harbors a prototypical PIN-like RNase domain and inhibits HIV-1 replication by interacting with and degrading viral mRNA species. Upon activation of CD4 + T cells, however, N4BP1 undergoes rapid cleavage at Arg509 by the paracaspase MALT1. Mutational analyses and knockout studies revealed that MALT1-mediated inactivation of N4BP1 facilitates the reactivation of latent HIV-1 proviruses. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that the RNase N4BP1 is an efficient restriction factor of HIV-1 and suggest that inactivation of N4BP1 by induction of MALT1 activation might facilitate elimination of latent HIV-1 reservoirs.

Akirin2, an evolutionarily conserved nuclear protein, is an important factor regulating inflammatory gene transcription in mammalian innate immune cells by bridging the NF-κB and SWI/SNF complexes. Although Akirin is critical for Drosophila immune responses, which totally rely on innate immunity, the mammalian NF-κB system is critical not only for the innate but also for the acquired immune system. Therefore, we investigated the role of mouse Akirin2 in acquired immune cells by ablating Akirin2 function in B lymphocytes. B cell–specific Akirin2-deficient (Cd19Cre/+Akirin2fl/fl) mice showed profound decrease in the splenic follicular (FO) and peritoneal B-1, but not splenic marginal zone (MZ), B cell numbers. However, both Akirin2-deficient FO and MZ B cells showed severe proliferation defect and are prone to undergo apoptosis in response to TLR ligands, CD40, and BCR stimulation. Furthermore, B cell cycling was defective in the absence of Akirin2 owing to impaired expression of genes encoding cyclin D and c-Myc. Additionally, Brg1 recruitment to the Myc and Ccnd2 promoter was severely impaired in Akirin2-deficient B cells. Cd19Cre/+Akirin2fl/fl mice showed impaired in vivo immune responses to T-dependent and -independent Ags. Collectively, these results demonstrate that Akirin2 is critical for the mitogen-induced B cell cycle progression and humoral immune responses by controlling the SWI/SNF complex, further emphasizing the significant function of Akirin2 not only in the innate, but also in adaptive immune cells.

TNFR-associated factor family member–associated NF-κB activator (TANK)–binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is critical for the activation of IFN regulatory factor 3 and type I IFN production upon virus infection. A set of TBK1-binding proteins, 5-azacytidine–induced gene 2 (AZI2; also known as NAP1), TANK, and TBK1-binding protein 1 (TBKBP1), have also been implicated in the production of type I IFNs. Among them, TANK was found to be dispensable for the responses against virus infection. However, physiological roles of AZI2 and TBKBP1 have yet to be clarified. In this study, we found that none of these TBK1-binding proteins is critical for type I IFN production in mice. In contrast, AZI2, but not TBKBP1, is critical for the differentiation of conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) from bone marrow cells in response to GM-CSF. AZI2 controls GM-CSF–induced cell cycling of bone marrow cells via TBK1. GM-CSF–derived DCs from AZI2-deficient mice show severe defects in cytokine production and T cell activation both in vitro and in vivo. Reciprocally, overexpression of AZI2 results in efficient generation of cDCs, and the cells show enhanced T cell activation in response to Ag stimulation. Taken together, AZI2 expression is critical for the generation of cDCs by GM-CSF and can potentially be used to increase the efficiency of immunization by cDCs.

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Specific interaction between green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged human alpha- or gamma-enolase(97-242) (alpha or gammaENO(97-242)) and the rhodamine-labeled DNA fragment containing the c-myc P2 promoter was detected by a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based assay, designated as a "real-time FRET assay." The approach of donor (GFP) and acceptor (rhodamine) was caused by the association between ENO(97-242) and the c-myc P2 promoter, and the time-dependent increase in fluorescence intensity of the reaction mixture was observed at ex=400 nm and em=590 nm. The relative affinity (R(as)) of ENO(97-242) mutants to the wild type was investigated with a real-time FRET assay, and it was clarified that the amino acids that participated in the interaction existed comparatively broadly. Although it was difficult to measure the absolute value of the affinity for the binding protein by using this method, it was possible to investigate the relative affinity of mutants for the wild type. A real-time FRET assay using the GFP-tagged protein could be used as not only a qualitative, but also as a quantitative analysis, this being the best for investigating the key amino acids in binding proteins.

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