The GRIP1:IRF3 interaction as a target for glucocorticoid receptor-mediated immunosuppression

EMBO J. 2006 Jan 11;25(1):108-17. doi: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600919. Epub 2005 Dec 15.

Abstract

Glucocorticoids dramatically inhibit cytokine and chemokine production. They act through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor that binds to and represses activities of other DNA-bound regulators, activator protein 1 and nuclear factor kappaB, utilizing a p160 GRIP1 as a corepressor. A yeast two-hybrid screen with the GRIP1 corepression domain (RD) yielded interferon (IFN) regulatory factor (IRF)3-a downstream effector of Toll-like receptors (TLR) 3/4 and an essential activator of several IFN and chemokine genes. We defined the GRIP1:IRF3 interface and showed that endogenous GRIP1 and IRF3 interact in mammalian cells. Interestingly, GR and IRF3 competed for GRIP1 binding; GR activation or GRIP1 knockdown in macrophages blocked whereas GRIP1 overexpression rescued IRF3-dependent gene expression. GR interference persisted in MyD88- and IFNA receptor-deficient mice, suggesting a specific disruption of TLR3-IRF3 pathway, not of autocrine IFN signaling. Finally, IRF3-stimulated response elements were necessary and sufficient for TLR3-dependent induction and glucocorticoid inhibition. Thus, GRIP1 plays a cofactor role in innate immunity. Competition with GR for GRIP1 antagonizes IRF3-mediated transcription, identifying the GRIP1:IRF3 interaction as a novel target for glucocorticoid immunosuppression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Animals
  • Binding, Competitive
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology
  • Immunosuppression Therapy*
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / metabolism*
  • Interferon-beta / metabolism
  • Interferon-beta / pharmacology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2 / metabolism*
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Interferon / genetics
  • Response Elements / drug effects
  • Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid
  • Receptors, Interferon
  • Receptor, Interferon alpha-beta
  • Interferon-beta