The RNA-binding protein Mex3B is a coreceptor of Toll-like receptor 3 in innate antiviral response

Cell Res. 2016 Mar;26(3):288-303. doi: 10.1038/cr.2016.16. Epub 2016 Jan 29.

Abstract

Recognition of viral dsRNA by Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) leads to induction of interferons (IFNs) and proinflammatory cytokines, and innate antiviral response. Here we identified the RNA-binding protein Mex3B as a positive regulator of TLR3-mediated signaling by expression cloning screens. Cells from Mex3b(-/-) mice exhibited reduced production of IFN-β in response to the dsRNA analog poly(I:C) but not infection with RNA viruses. Mex3b(-/-) mice injected with poly(I:C) was more resistant to poly(I:C)-induced death. Mex3B was associated with TLR3 in the endosomes. It bound to dsRNA and increased the dsRNA-binding activity of TLR3. Mex3B also promoted the proteolytic processing of TLR3, which is critical for its activation. Mutants of Mex3B lacking its RNA-binding activity inhibited TLR3-mediated IFN-β induction. These findings suggest that Mex3B acts as a coreceptor of TLR3 in innate antiviral response.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Female
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Male
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Poly I-C / pharmacology
  • RNA Viruses / physiology
  • RNA, Double-Stranded / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • MEX3B protein, mouse
  • RNA, Double-Stranded
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • TICAM-1 protein, mouse
  • TLR3 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3
  • Poly I-C