Biomedical subjects

Taro Kawai

Publications and source records attributed to Taro Kawai.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Antiviral signaling through pattern recognition receptors.

Viral infection is detected by the host innate immune system. Innate immune cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages detect nucleic acids derived from viruses through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Viral recognition by PRRs initiates the activation of signaling pathways that lead to production of type I interferon and inflammatory cytokines, which are important for the elimination of viruses. Two types of PRRs that recognize viral nucleic acids, Toll-like receptors (TLR) and RIG-I-like RNA helicases (RLH), have been identified. Of the TLRs, TLR3 recognizes viral double-stranded (ds) RNA, TLR7 and human TLR8 identify viral single-stranded (ss) RNA and TLR9 detects viral DNA. TLRs are located in endosomal compartments, whereas RLH are present in the cytoplasm where they detect viral dsRNA or ssRNA. Here we review the role of TLRs and RLHs in the antiviral innate immune response.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Cutting Edge: Pivotal function of Ubc13 in thymocyte TCR signaling.

The Ubc13 E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme is essential for BCR-, TLR-, and IL-1 receptor (IL-1R)-mediated immune responses. Although Ubc13-deficient mice show defects in BCR-, TLR/IL-1R-, or CD40-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, the function of Ubc13 in TCR-mediated signaling and responses remains uncertain. To address this, we here generated T cell-specific conditional Ubc13-deficient mice. The frequency of T lymphocytes was severely reduced in spleens from Ubc13-deficient mice. Moreover, Ubc13-deficient thymocytes displayed defective proliferation in response to anti-CD3/CD28 or PMA/ionophore stimulation. Regarding the signal transduction, although NF-kappaB activation was modestly affected, PMA/ionophore-induced activation of Jnk and p38 was profoundly impaired in Ubc13-deficient thymocytes. In addition, PMA/ionophore-mediated ubiquitination of NF-kappaB essential modulator (NEMO)/IkappaB kinase gamma (IKKgamma) and phosphorylation of TGF-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) were nearly abolished in Ubc13-deficient thymocytes. Thus, Ubc13 plays an important role in thymocyte TCR-mediated signaling and immune responses.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Pathological role of Toll-like receptor signaling in cerebral malaria.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize malaria parasites or their metabolites; however, their physiological roles in malaria infection in vivo are not fully understood. Here, we show that myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)-dependent TLR signaling mediates brain pathogenesis of severe malaria infection, namely cerebral malaria (CM). A significant number of MyD88-, but not TIR domain containing adaptor-inducing IFN-beta (TRIF)-deficient or wild-type (WT) mice survived CM caused by Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA) infection. Although systemic parasitemia was comparable, sequestration of parasite and hemozoin load in the brain blood vessels was significantly lower in MyD88-deficient mice compared with those in TRIF-deficient or WT mice. Moreover, brain-specific pathological changes were associated with MyD88-dependent infiltration of CD8+, CCR5+ T cells and CD11c+ dendritic cells, including CD11c+, NK1.1+ and B220+ cells, and up-regulation of genes such as Granzyme B, Lipocalin 2, Ccl3 and Ccr5. Further studies using mice lacking various TLRs suggest that TLR2 and TLR9, but not TLR4, 5 and 7, were involved in CM. These results strongly suggest that TLR2- and/or TLR9-mediated, MyD88-dependent brain pathogenesis may play a critical role in CM, the lethal complication during PbA infection.

Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport↗

PubMed2006

VP1686, a Vibrio type III secretion protein, induces toll-like receptor-independent apoptosis in macrophage through NF-kappaB inhibition.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, causative agent of human gastrointestinal diseases, possesses several virulent machineries including thermostable direct hemolysin and type III secretion systems (TTSS1 and -2). In this report, we establish that TTSS1-dependent secretion and translocation of a V. parahaemolyticus effector protein VP1686 into the cytosol induces DNA fragmentation in macrophages. We performed yeast two-hybrid screening to identify the molecules involved in VP1686-mediated cell death pathways and showed that nuclear factor RelA p65/NF-kappaB physically interacts with VP1686. To understand the impact of this interaction on the NF-kappaB DNA binding activities in infected macrophages, we analyzed a series of deletion mutants for the TTSS and its secreted proteins. Induction of DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB was significantly suppressed, and increased macrophage apoptosis has been associated with V. parahaemolyticus strain, which contains both VP1686 and TTSS1. Macrophages lacking Toll-like receptor adaptor molecules MyD88 (myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88) or TRIF (TIR domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon beta) showed similar sensitivity to VP1686. As a consequence of NF-kappaB suppression, microarray analysis has revealed that VP1686 translocation alerted the expression of many genes that have known functions in cellular responses to apoptosis, cell growth, and transcriptional regulation. Our results suggest an important role for Vibrio effector protein VP1686 that activate a conserved apoptotic pathway in macrophages through suppression of NF-kappaB activation independent of Toll-like receptor signaling.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

TAK1 is indispensable for development of T cells and prevention of colitis by the generation of regulatory T cells.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-activating kinase 1 (TAK1) is critical for Toll-like receptor- and tumor necrosis factor-mediated cellular responses. In B cells, TAK1 is essential for the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), but not nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), in antigen receptor signaling. In this study, we generate T cell-specific TAK1-deficient (Lck(Cre/(+))Tak1(flox/flox)) mice and show that TAK1 is indispensable for the maintenance of peripheral CD4 and CD8 T cells. In thymocytes, TAK1 is essential for TCR-mediated activation of both NF-kappaB and MAPKs. Additionally, Lck(Cre/(+))Tak1(flox/flox) mice developed colitis as they aged. In these mice, accumulations of activated/memory T cells as well as B cells were observed. Development of regulatory T (Treg) cells in thymus was abrogated in Lck(Cre/(+))Tak1(flox/flox) mice, suggesting that the loss of Treg cells is the cause of the disease. Together, the results show that TAK1, by controlling the generation of central Treg cells, is important for preventing spontaneously developing colitis.

Aging↗

PubMed2006

Key function for the Ubc13 E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme in immune receptor signaling.

The Ubc13 E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme is key in the process of 'tagging' target proteins with lysine 63-linked polyubiquitin chains, which are essential for the transmission of immune receptor signals culminating in activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. Here we demonstrate that conditional ablation of Ubc13 resulted in defective B cell development and in impaired B cell and macrophage activation. In response to all tested stimuli except tumor necrosis factor, Ubc13-deficient cells showed almost normal NF-kappaB activation but considerably impaired activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. Ubc13-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase required, at least in part, ubiquitination of the adaptor protein IKKgamma. These results show that Ubc13 is key in the mammalian immune response.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Detection of pathogenic intestinal bacteria by Toll-like receptor 5 on intestinal CD11c+ lamina propria cells.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize distinct microbial components and induce innate immune responses. TLR5 is triggered by bacterial flagellin. Here we generated Tlr5-/- mice and assessed TLR5 function in vivo. Unlike other TLRs, TLR5 was not expressed on conventional dendritic cells or macrophages. In contrast, TLR5 was expressed mainly on intestinal CD11c+ lamina propria cells (LPCs). CD11c+ LPCs detected pathogenic bacteria and secreted proinflammatory cytokines in a TLR5-dependent way. However, CD11c+ LPCs do not express TLR4 and did not secrete proinflammatory cytokines after exposure to a commensal bacterium. Notably, transport of pathogenic Salmonella typhimurium from the intestinal tract to mesenteric lymph nodes was impaired in Tlr5-/- mice. These data suggest that CD11c+ LPCs, via TLR5, detect and are used by pathogenic bacteria in the intestinal lumen.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Essential role of IPS-1 in innate immune responses against RNA viruses.

IFN-beta promoter stimulator (IPS)-1 was recently identified as an adapter for retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (Mda5), which recognize distinct RNA viruses. Here we show the critical role of IPS-1 in antiviral responses in vivo. IPS-1-deficient mice showed severe defects in both RIG-I- and Mda5-mediated induction of type I interferon and inflammatory cytokines and were susceptible to RNA virus infection. RNA virus-induced interferon regulatory factor-3 and nuclear factor kappaB activation was also impaired in IPS-1-deficient cells. IPS-1, however, was not essential for the responses to either DNA virus or double-stranded B-DNA. Thus, IPS-1 is the sole adapter in both RIG-I and Mda5 signaling that mediates effective responses against a variety of RNA viruses.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2006

Roles of caspase-8 and caspase-10 in innate immune responses to double-stranded RNA.

Upon viral infection, host cells trigger antiviral immune responses by inducing type I IFN and inflammatory cytokines. dsRNA generated during viral replication is recognized by the cytoplasmic RNA helicases retinoic acid-inducible gene I and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, which interact with an adaptor, IFN-beta promoter stimulator-1, to activate the transcription factors NF-kappaB and IFN regulatory factor 3. In this article we demonstrate that caspase-8 and caspase-10 are involved in these pathways. Both caspases were cleaved during dsRNA stimulation, and overexpression of a cleaved form of these caspases activated NF-kappaB. Knockdown of caspase-10 or caspase-8 in a human cell line resulted in the reduction of inflammatory cytokine production. Cells derived from caspase-8-deficient mice also showed reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines as well as NF-kappaB activation. Furthermore, the Fas-associated death domain protein interacted with these two caspases and IFN-beta promoter stimulator 1. These results indicate that caspase-8 and caspase-10 are essential components that mediate NF-kappaB-dependent inflammatory responses in antiviral signaling.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2006

Differential roles of MDA5 and RIG-I helicases in the recognition of RNA viruses.

The innate immune system senses viral infection by recognizing a variety of viral components (including double-stranded (ds)RNA) and triggers antiviral responses. The cytoplasmic helicase proteins RIG-I (retinoic-acid-inducible protein I, also known as Ddx58) and MDA5 (melanoma-differentiation-associated gene 5, also known as Ifih1 or Helicard) have been implicated in viral dsRNA recognition. In vitro studies suggest that both RIG-I and MDA5 detect RNA viruses and polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), a synthetic dsRNA analogue. Although a critical role for RIG-I in the recognition of several RNA viruses has been clarified, the functional role of MDA5 and the relationship between these dsRNA detectors in vivo are yet to be determined. Here we use mice deficient in MDA5 (MDA5-/-) to show that MDA5 and RIG-I recognize different types of dsRNAs: MDA5 recognizes poly(I:C), and RIG-I detects in vitro transcribed dsRNAs. RNA viruses are also differentially recognized by RIG-I and MDA5. We find that RIG-I is essential for the production of interferons in response to RNA viruses including paramyxoviruses, influenza virus and Japanese encephalitis virus, whereas MDA5 is critical for picornavirus detection. Furthermore, RIG-I-/- and MDA5-/- mice are highly susceptible to infection with these respective RNA viruses compared to control mice. Together, our data show that RIG-I and MDA5 distinguish different RNA viruses and are critical for host antiviral responses.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Innate immune recognition of viral infection.

Induction of the antiviral innate immune response depends on recognition of viral components by host pattern-recognition receptors. Members of the Toll-like receptor family have emerged as key sensors that recognize viral components such as nucleic acids. Toll-like receptor signaling results in the production of type I interferon and inflammatory cytokines and leads to dendritic cell maturation and establishment of antiviral immunity. Cells also express cytoplasmic RNA helicases that function as alternative pattern-recognition receptors through recognition of double-stranded RNA produced during virus replication. These two classes of pattern-recognition receptor molecules are expressed in different intracellular compartments and induce type I interferon responses via distinct signaling pathways.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2006

[Role of IPS-1 in type I IFN induction].

Type I interferons (IFNalpha/beta) are central mediators for antiviral responses. Using a functional cloning strategy, we have identified a molecule designated IPS-1. IPS-1 overexpression caused antiviral responses by producing type I IFN and IFN-inducible genes through activation of IRF3, IRF7 and NF-kappaB. TBK1 and IKKi protein kinases were required for the IPS-1-mediated IFN induction. IPS-1 contains an N-terminal caspase recruiting domain (CARD)-like structure that mediates interaction with the CARD of RIG-I and Mda5, cytoplasmic RNA helicases sensing RNA viruses. Reduction of IPS-1 by siRNA blocked IFN induction by virus infection. Thus, IPS-1 is an adapter that mediates RIG-I- and Mda5-dependent antiviral responses.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2005

A Toll-like receptor-independent antiviral response induced by double-stranded B-form DNA.

The innate immune system recognizes nucleic acids during infection or tissue damage; however, the mechanisms of intracellular recognition of DNA have not been fully elucidated. Here we show that intracellular administration of double-stranded B-form DNA (B-DNA) triggered antiviral responses including production of type I interferons and chemokines independently of Toll-like receptors or the helicase RIG-I. B-DNA activated transcription factor IRF3 and the promoter of the gene encoding interferon-beta through a signaling pathway that required the kinases TBK1 and IKKi, whereas there was substantial activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB independent of both TBK and IKKi. IPS-1, an adaptor molecule linking RIG-I and TBK1, was involved in B-DNA-induced activation of interferon-beta and NF-kappaB. B-DNA signaling by this pathway conferred resistance to viral infection in a way dependent on both TBK1 and IKKi. These results suggest that both TBK1 and IKKi are required for innate immune activation by B-DNA, which might be important in antiviral innate immunity and other DNA-associated immune disorders.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2005

Phosphorylation of threonine-265 in Zipper-interacting protein kinase plays an important role in its activity and is induced by IL-6 family cytokines.

Zipper-interacting protein kinase (ZIPK) is a widely expressed serine/threonine kinase that has been implicated in cell death and transcriptional regulation, but its mechanism of regulation remains unknown. Here, we identified threonine-265 (Thr265) in ZIPK as a major autophosphorylation site. Mutational analyses revealed that autophosphorylation of Thr265 were essential for its full catalytic activity toward an exogenous substrate as well as for cell death induction. Furthermore, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) stimulated Thr265 phosphorylation of ZIPK, thereby leading to phosphorylation and activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3). Taken together, our findings demonstrate that ZIPK is positively regulated through Thr265 phosphorylation and that this phosphorylation is essential for its function.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Physical and functional interactions between STAT3 and ZIP kinase.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a latent cytoplasmic transcription factor that can be activated by cytokines and growth factors. It plays important roles in cell growth, apoptosis and cell transformation, and is constitutively active in a variety of tumor cells. In this study, we provide evidence that zipper-interacting protein kinase (ZIPK) interacts physically with STAT3. ZIPK specifically interacted with STAT3, and did not bind to STAT1, STAT4, STAT5a, STAT5b or STAT6. ZIPK phosphorylated STAT3 on serine 727 (Ser727) and enhanced STAT3 transcriptional activity. Small interfering RNA-mediated reduction of ZIPK expression decreased leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)- and IL-6-induced STAT3-dependent transcription. Furthermore, LIF- and IL-6-mediated STAT3 activation stimulated ZIPK activity. Taken together, our data suggest that ZIPK interacts with STAT3 within the nucleus to regulate the transcriptional activity of STAT3 via phosphorylation of Ser727.

Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins↗

PubMed2005

Essential function for the kinase TAK1 in innate and adaptive immune responses.

Transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) has been linked to interleukin 1 receptor and tumor necrosis factor receptor signaling. Here we generated mouse strains with conditional expression of a Map3k7 allele encoding part of TAK1. TAK1-deficient embryonic fibroblasts demonstrated loss of responses to interleukin 1beta and tumor necrosis factor. Studies of mice with B cell-specific TAK1 deficiency showed that TAK1 was indispensable for cellular responses to Toll-like receptor ligands, CD40 and B cell receptor crosslinking. In addition, antigen-induced immune responses were considerably impaired in mice with B cell-specific TAK1 deficiency. TAK1-deficient cells failed to activate transcription factor NF-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinases in response to interleukin 1beta, tumor necrosis factor and Toll-like receptor ligands. However, TAK1-deficient B cells were able to activate NF-kappaB but not the kinase Jnk in response to B cell receptor stimulation. These results collectively indicate that TAK1 is key in the cellular response to a variety of stimuli.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

IPS-1, an adaptor triggering RIG-I- and Mda5-mediated type I interferon induction.

Type I interferons are central mediators for antiviral responses. Using high-throughput functional screening of interferon inducers, we have identified here a molecule we call interferon-beta promoter stimulator 1 (IPS-1). Overexpression of IPS-1 induced type I interferon and interferon-inducible genes through activation of IRF3, IRF7 and NF-kappaB transcription factors. TBK1 and IKKi protein kinases were required for the IPS-1-mediated interferon induction. IPS-1 contained an N-terminal CARD-like structure that mediated interaction with the CARD of RIG-I and Mda5, which are cytoplasmic RNA helicases that sense viral infection. 'Knockdown' of IPS-1 by small interfering RNA blocked interferon induction by virus infection. Thus, IPS-1 is an adaptor involved in RIG-I- and Mda5-mediated antiviral immune responses.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

PubMed2005

Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-1 plays an essential role for Toll-like receptor (TLR)7- and TLR9-mediated interferon-{alpha} induction.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize microbial pathogens and trigger innate immune responses. Among TLR family members, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 induce interferon (IFN)-alpha in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). This induction requires the formation of a complex consisting of the adaptor MyD88, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and IFN regulatory factor (IRF) 7. Here we show an essential role of IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)-1 in TLR7- and TLR9-mediated IRF7 signaling pathway. IRAK-1 directly bound and phosphorylated IRF7 in vitro. The kinase activity of IRAK-1 was necessary for transcriptional activation of IRF7. TLR7- and TLR9-mediated IFN-alpha production was abolished in Irak-1-deficient mice, whereas inflammatory cytokine production was not impaired. Despite normal activation of NF-kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinases, IRF7 was not activated by a TLR9 ligand in Irak-1-deficient pDCs. These results indicated that IRAK-1 is a specific regulator for TLR7- and TLR9-mediated IFN-alpha induction in pDCs.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗