Synergistic activation of NF-κB by TNFAIP3 (A20) reduction and UBE2L3 (UBCH7) augment that synergistically elevate lupus risk

Abstract

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease. SLE susceptibility is affected by multiple genetic elements, environmental factors, and their interactions. We aimed in this study to statistically and functionally characterize a gene-gene interaction (epistasis) recently documented to affect SLE risk. Methods: Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms, rs2230926 in TNFAIP3 (A20) gene and rs131654 in UBE2L3 (UBCH7) gene, were genotyped in all 3525 Korean participants, and their SLE risk association and epistasis were statistically analyzed by calculating odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI), and P values in genotype comparisons between 1318 SLE patients and 2207 healthy controls. Furthermore, their effects on gene functions were assessed by comparatively examining separate and combined effects of TNFAIP3 and UBE2L3 knockdowns on NF-κB transcription factor activity in human cells. Results: SLE susceptibility is associated with TNFAIP3 rs2230926 (OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.6-2.4, P = 8.6 × 10 −11) and UBE2L3 rs131654 (OR = 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4, P = 1.1 × 10 −4) in a Korean population of this study. Their risk-associated alleles synergistically elevate SLE susceptibility in both multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR interaction = 1.6, P = 0.0028) and genotype-stratified analysis (OR interaction = 2.4), confirming the synergistic TNFAIP3-UBE2L3 interaction in SLE risk. Additionally, the SLE-susceptible alleles confer decreased TNFAIP3 expression (P = 1.1 × 10 −6 , n = 610) and increased UBE2L3 expression (P = 9.5 × 10 −11 , n = 475), respectively, in B cell analysis of the International HapMap Project individuals with adjustment for ethnicity. Furthermore, when compared with TNFAIP3 non-knockdown and UBE2L3 knockdown in human HeLa cells, TNFAIP3 knockdown and UBE2L3 non-knockdown synergistically increase three cytokines, CCL2, CXCL8 (IL8), and IL6, all regulated by NF-κB in the human TNFR signaling pathway.

Purified Sika deer antler protein attenuates GM-induced nephrotoxicity by activating Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting NF-κB pathway

“…NF-κB signaling pathway may be activated or inactivated by different factors or stimulation signals, such as tumor necrosis factor-A, IL-6, Caspase-3, c-Jun N-terminal kinase and ROS 37 . On the contrary, activation of NF-κB can induce the expression of many proinflammatory genes, including COX-2, TNF-α, IL-6 and iNOS 38 . Previous studies have shown that GM can induce severe inflammatory reactions, including activation of NF-κB and iNOS, and the production of TNF-α 39 .…”

Effects of Upregulation of TNFAIP3 on Diabetic Neuropathic Pain in Mice

“…It is both deubiquitinating and is an ubiquitin ligase. The vital involvement of this protein in regulating inflammatory signal transduction [15,16] to negatively regulate the NF-κB pathway via feedback and inhibit NF-κB pathway activation via several inflammatory signals has been shown [17][18][19][20]. It can inhibit the transcription of downstream inflammatory factors and has a strong anti-inflammatory effect.…”

Lupus Nephritis: Current Perspectives and Moving Forward

“… 49 Latest investigations suggest that another predominantly in lymphocytes expressed ubiquitin-carrier enzyme E2L3 ( UBE2L3 ) is a risk gene that influences autoimmunity by modulating UBCH7 expression. 50 , 51 Experimental studies in mice showed that the MCPIP1 protein negatively regulates c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and NF-κB activity by removing ubiquitin moieties from TRAF proteins, which determines autoantibodies in SLE. 52 , 53 Furthermore, the interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) associated kinase (IRAK) family, which plays a crucial role in the protective response to pathogens and inflammatory processes, is involved in the susceptibility to SLE.…”