Andreas Neerincx

A Role for the Human Nucleotide-binding Domain, Leucine-rich Repeat-containing Family Member NLRC5 in Antiviral Responses

Proteins of the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat (NLR)-containing family recently gained attention as important components of the innate immune system. Although over 20 of these proteins are present in humans, only a few members including the cytosolic pattern recognition receptors NOD1, NOD2, and NLRP3 have been analyzed extensively. These NLRs were shown to be pivotal for mounting innate immune response toward microbial invasion. Here we report on the characterization of human NLRC5 and provide evidence that this NLR has a function in innate immune responses. We found that NLRC5 is a cytosolic protein expressed predominantly in hematopoetic cells. NLRC5 mRNA and protein expression was inducible by the double-stranded RNA analog poly(I·C) and Sendai virus. Overexpression of NLRC5 failed to trigger inflammatory responses such as the NF-κB or interferon pathways in HEK293T cells. However, knockdown of endogenous NLRC5 reduced Sendai virus- and poly(I·C)-mediated type I interferon pathway-dependent responses in THP-1 cells and human primary dermal fibroblasts. Taken together, this defines a function for NLRC5 in anti-viral innate immune responses.

NLRC5 Controls Basal MHC Class I Gene Expression in an MHC Enhanceosome-Dependent Manner

Nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat (NLR) proteins play important roles in innate immune responses as pattern-recognition receptors. Although most NLR proteins act in cell autonomous immune pathways, some do not function as classical pattern-recognition receptors. One such NLR protein is the MHC class II transactivator, the master regulator of MHC class II gene transcription. In this article, we report that human NLRC5, which we recently showed to be involved in viral-mediated type I IFN responses, shuttles to the nucleus and activates MHC class I gene expression. Knockdown of NLRC5 in different human cell lines and primary dermal fibroblasts leads to reduced MHC class I expression, whereas introduction of NLRC5 into cell types with very low expression of MHC class I augments MHC class I expression to levels comparable to those found in lymphocytes. Expression of NLRC5 positively correlates with MHC class I expression in human tissues. Functionally, we show that both the N-terminal effector domain of NLRC5 and its C-terminal leucine-rich repeat domain are needed for activation of MHC class I expression. Moreover, nuclear shuttling and function depend on a functional Walker A motif. Finally, we identified a promoter sequence in the MHC class I promoter, the X1 box, to be involved in NLRC5-mediated MHC class I gene activation. Taken together, this suggested that NLRC5 acts in a manner similar to class II transactivator to drive MHC expression and revealed NLRC5 as an important regulator of basal MHC class I expression.

TRIM27 Negatively Regulates NOD2 by Ubiquitination and Proteasomal Degradation

NOD2, the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing gene family (NLR) member 2 is involved in mediating antimicrobial responses. Dysfunctional NOD2 activity can lead to severe inflammatory disorders, but the regulation of NOD2 is still poorly understood. Recently, proteins of the tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family have emerged as regulators of innate immune responses by acting as E3 ubiquitin ligases. We identified TRIM27 as a new specific binding partner for NOD2. We show that NOD2 physically interacts with TRIM27 via the nucleotide-binding domain, and that NOD2 activation enhances this interaction. Dependent on functional TRIM27, ectopically expressed NOD2 is ubiquitinated with K48-linked ubiquitin chains followed by proteasomal degradation. Accordingly, TRIM27 affects NOD2-mediated pro-inflammatory responses. NOD2 mutations are linked to susceptibility to Crohns disease. We found that TRIM27 expression is increased in Crohns disease patients, underscoring a physiological role of TRIM27 in regulating NOD2 signaling. In HeLa cells, TRIM27 is partially localized in the nucleus. We revealed that ectopically expressed NOD2 can shuttle to the nucleus in a Walker A dependent manner, suggesting that NOD2 and TRIM27 might functionally cooperate in the nucleus. We conclude that TRIM27 negatively regulates NOD2-mediated signaling by degradation of NOD2 and suggest that TRIM27 could be a new target for therapeutic intervention in NOD2-associated diseases.

NLRC5, at the Heart of Antigen Presentation.

Nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing receptors (NLRs) are intracellular proteins mainly involved in pathogen recognition, inflammatory responses, and cell death. Until recently, the function of the family member NLR caspase recruitment domain (CARD) containing 5 (NLRC5) has been a matter of debate. It is now clear that NLRC5 acts as a transcriptional regulator of the major-histocompatibility complex class I. In this review we detail the development of our understanding of NLRC5 function, discussing both the accepted and the controversial aspects of NLRC5 activity. We give insight into the molecular mechanisms, and the potential implications, of NLRC5 function in health and disease.

TAPBPR bridges UDP-glucose: glycoprotein glucosyltransferase 1 onto MHC class I to provide quality control in the antigen presentation pathway

Recently, we revealed that TAPBPR is a peptide exchange catalyst that is important for optimal peptide selection by MHC class I molecules. Here, we asked whether any other co-factors associate with TAPBPR, which would explain its effect on peptide selection. We identify an interaction between TAPBPR and UDP-glucose:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase 1 (UGT1), a folding sensor in the calnexin/calreticulin quality control cycle that is known to regenerate the Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 moiety on glycoproteins. Our results suggest the formation of a multimeric complex, dependent on a conserved cysteine at position 94 in TAPBPR, in which TAPBPR promotes the association of UGT1 with peptide-receptive MHC class I molecules. We reveal that the interaction between TAPBPR and UGT1 facilities the reglucosylation of the glycan on MHC class I molecules, promoting their recognition by calreticulin. Our results suggest that in addition to being a peptide editor, TAPBPR improves peptide optimisation by promoting peptide-receptive MHC class I molecules to associate with the peptide-loading complex. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.23049.001

NLRC5 interacts with RIG‐I to induce a robust antiviral response against influenza virus infection

The NLR protein, NLRC5 is an important regulator of MHC class I gene expression, however, the role of NLRC5 in other innate immune responses is less well defined. In the present study, we report that NLRC5 binds RIG‐I and that this interaction is critical for robust antiviral responses against influenza virus. Overexpression of NLRC5 in the human lung epithelial cell line, A549, and normal human bronchial epithelial cells resulted in impaired replication of influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/34 virus (PR8) and enhanced IFN‐β expression. Influenza virus leads to induction of IFN‐β that drives RIG‐I and NLRC5 expression in host cells. Our results suggest that NLRC5 extends and stabilizes influenza virus induced RIG‐I expression and delays expression of the viral inhibitor protein NS1. We show that NS1 binds to NLRC5 to suppress its function. Interaction domain mapping revealed that NLRC5 interacts with RIG‐I via its N‐terminal death domain and that NLRC5 enhanced antiviral activity in an leucine‐rich repeat domain independent manner. Taken together, our findings identify a novel role for NLRC5 in RIG‐I‐mediated antiviral host responses against influenza virus infection, distinguished from the role of NLRC5 in MHC class I gene regulation.

TAPBPR alters MHC class I peptide presentation by functioning as a peptide exchange catalyst.

Our understanding of the antigen presentation pathway has recently been enhanced with the identification that the tapasin-related protein TAPBPR is a second major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-specific chaperone. We sought to determine whether, like tapasin, TAPBPR can also influence MHC class I peptide selection by functioning as a peptide exchange catalyst. We show that TAPBPR can catalyse the dissociation of peptides from peptide-MHC I complexes, enhance the loading of peptide-receptive MHC I molecules, and discriminate between peptides based on affinity in vitro. In cells, the depletion of TAPBPR increased the diversity of peptides presented on MHC I molecules, suggesting that TAPBPR is involved in restricting peptide presentation. Our results suggest TAPBPR binds to MHC I in a peptide-receptive state and, like tapasin, works to enhance peptide optimisation. It is now clear there are two MHC class I specific peptide editors, tapasin and TAPBPR, intimately involved in controlling peptide presentation to the immune system. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09617.001

The N-Terminal Domain of NLRC5 Confers Transcriptional Activity for MHC Class I and II Gene Expression

Ag presentation to CD4+ and CD8+ T cells depends on MHC class II and MHC class I molecules, respectively. One important regulatory factor of this process is the transcriptional regulation of MHC gene expression. It is well established that MHC class II transcription relies on the NLR protein CIITA. Recently, another NLR protein, NLRC5, was shown to drive MHC class I expression. The molecular mechanisms of the function of NLRC5 however remain largely elusive. In this study, we present a detailed functional study of the domains of NLRC5 revealing that the N-terminal domain of human NLRC5 has intrinsic transcriptional activity. Domain swapping experiments between NLRC5 and CIITA showed that this domain contributes to MHC class I and MHC class II gene expression with a bias for activation of MHC class I promoters. Delivery of this construct by adeno-associated viral vectors upregulated MHC class I and MHC class II expression in human cells and enhanced lysis of melanoma cells by CD8+ cytotoxic T cells in vitro. Taken together, this work provides novel insight into the function of NLRC5 and CIITA in MHC gene regulation.

Properties of the tapasin homologue TAPBPR

The presentation of antigenic peptides by MHC class I molecules plays a vital role in generating T cell responses against infection and cancer. Over the last two decades the central role of tapasin as a peptide editor that influences the loading and optimisation of peptides onto MHC class I molecules has been extensively characterised. Recently, it has become evident that the tapasin-related protein, TAPBPR, functions as a second peptide editor which influences the peptides displayed by MHC class I molecules. Here, we review the discovery of TAPBPR and current understanding of this novel protein in relation to its closest homologue tapasin.

Preferential interaction of MHC class I with TAPBPR in the absence of glycosylation

Graphical abstract