Tripartite Motif-containing Research Articles

The C-terminal tail of TRIM56 dictates antiviral restriction of influenza A and B viruses by impeding viral RNA synthesis

Abstract Accumulating data suggest that tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) proteins participate in host responses to viral infections, either by acting as direct antiviral restriction factors or through regulating innate immune signaling of the host. Of >70 TRIMs, TRIM56 is a restriction factor of several positive-strand RNA viruses, including three members of the family Flaviviridae (yellow fever virus, dengue virus and bovine viral diarrhea virus) and a human coronavirus (OC43), and this ability invariably depends upon the E3 ligase activity of TRIM56. However, the impact of TRIM56 on negative-strand RNA viruses remains unclear. Herein, we show TRIM56 puts a check on replication of influenza A and B viruses in cell culture, but does not inhibit Sendai virus or human Metapneumovirus, two paramyxoviruses. Interestingly, the anti-influenza activity was independent of the E3 ligase activity, B-box, or coiled-coil domains. Rather, deletion of a 63-residue long, C-terminal tail portion of TRIM56 abrogated the antiviral function. Moreover, expression of this short C-terminal segment curtailed the replication of influenza viruses as effectively as that of full-length TRIM56. Mechanistically, TRIM56 was found to specifically impede intracellular influenza virus RNA synthesis. Consistent with this, a fraction of TRIM56 was re-distributed to the nucleus after IAV infection. Together, these data reveal novel antiviral activity of TRIM56 against influenza A and B viruses and provide novel insights into the mechanism by which TRIM56 restricts these medically important orthomyxoviruses. These findings raise the possibility that small molecules mimicking the C-terminal portion of TRIM56 could be developed into broad influenza antivirals.

The C-Terminal Tail of TRIM56 Dictates Antiviral Restriction of Influenza A and B Viruses by Impeding Viral RNA Synthesis.

Accumulating data suggest that tripartite-motif-containing (TRIM) proteins participate in host responses to viral infections, either by acting as direct antiviral restriction factors or through regulating innate immune signaling of the host. Of >70 TRIMs, TRIM56 is a restriction factor of several positive-strand RNA viruses, including three members of the family Flaviviridae(yellow fever virus, dengue virus, and bovine viral diarrhea virus) and a human coronavirus (OC43), and this ability invariably depends upon the E3 ligase activity of TRIM56. However, the impact of TRIM56 on negative-strand RNA viruses remains unclear. Here, we show that TRIM56 puts a check on replication of influenza A and B viruses in cell culture but does not inhibit Sendai virus or human metapneumovirus, two paramyxoviruses. Interestingly, the anti-influenza virus activity was independent of the E3 ligase activity, B-box, or coiled-coil domain. Rather, deletion of a 63-residue-long C-terminal-tail portion of TRIM56 abrogated the antiviral function. Moreover, expression of this short C-terminal segment curtailed the replication of influenza viruses as effectively as that of full-length TRIM56. Mechanistically, TRIM56 was found to specifically impede intracellular influenza virus RNA synthesis. Together, these data reveal a novel antiviral activity of TRIM56 against influenza A and B viruses and provide insights into the mechanism by which TRIM56 restricts these medically important orthomyxoviruses. Options to treat influenza are limited, and drug-resistant influenza virus strains can emerge through minor genetic changes. Understanding novel virus-host interactions that alter influenza virus fitness may reveal new targets/approaches for therapeutic interventions. We show here that TRIM56, a tripartite-motif protein, is an intrinsic host restriction factor of influenza A and B viruses. Unlike its antiviral actions against positive-strand RNA viruses, the anti-influenza virus activity of TRIM56 was independent of the E3 ligase activity. Rather, expression of a short segment within the very C-terminal tail of TRIM56 inhibited the replication of influenza viruses as effectively as that of full-length TRIM56 by specifically targeting viral RNA synthesis. These data reveal the remarkable multifaceted activity of TRIM56, which has developed multiple domains to inhibit multiple viral families. They also raise the possibility of developing a broad-spectrum, TRIM56-based antiviral approach for addition to influenza prophylaxis and/or control strategies.

General Strategies in Inflammasome Biology.

The complementary actions of the innate and adaptive immune systems often provide effective host defense against microbial pathogens and harmful environmental agents. Germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) endow the innate immune system with the ability to detect and mount a rapid response against a given threat. Members of several intracellular PRR families, including the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing receptors (NLRs), the AIM2-like receptors (ALRs), and the tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) protein Pyrin/TRIM20, nucleate the formation of inflammasomes. These cytosolic scaffolds serve to recruit and oligomerize the cysteine protease caspase-1 in filaments that promote its proximity-induced autoactivation. This oligomerization occurs either directly or indirectly through intervention of the bipartite adaptor protein ASC, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (CARD), which is needed for the domain interaction. Caspase-1 cleaves the precursors of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 and triggers their release into the extracellular space, where they act on effector cells to promote both local and systemic immune responses. Additionally, inflammasome activation gives rise to a lytic mode of cell death, named pyroptosis, which is thought to contribute to initial host defense against infection by eliminating replication niches of intracellular pathogens and exposing them to the immune system. Inflammasome-induced host defense responses are the subject of intense investigation, and understanding their physiological roles during infection and the regulatory circuits that are involved is becoming increasingly detailed. Here, we discuss current understanding of the activation mechanisms and biological outcomes of inflammasome activation.

TRIM39 negatively regulates the NFκB-mediated signaling pathway through stabilization of Cactin.

NFκB is one of the central regulators of cell survival, immunity, inflammation, carcinogenesis and organogenesis. The activation of NFκB is strictly regulated by several posttranslational modifications including phosphorylation, neddylation and ubiquitination. Several types of ubiquitination play important roles in multi-step regulations of the NFκB pathway. Some of the tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) proteins functioning as E3 ubiquitin ligases are known to regulate various biological processes such as inflammatory signaling pathways. One of the TRIM family proteins, TRIM39, for which the gene has single nucleotide polymorphisms, has been identified as one of the genetic factors in Behcet's disease. However, the role of TRIM39 in inflammatory signaling had not been fully elucidated. In this study, to elucidate the function of TRIM39 in inflammatory signaling, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening using TRIM39 as a bait and identified Cactin, which has been reported to inhibit NFκB- and TLR-mediated transcriptions. We show that TRIM39 stabilizes Cactin protein and that Cactin is upregulated after TNFα stimulation. TRIM39 knockdown also causes activation of the NFκB signal. These findings suggest that TRIM39 negatively regulates the NFκB signal in collaboration with Cactin induced by inflammatory stimulants such as TNFα.

Abstract 359: Tripartite Motif Protein 58 (trim58) is a Novel Regulator of Membrane Repair With Increased Expression in Failing Cardiac Muscle

In recent years, members of the tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases have been shown to be both positively and negatively regulated in various disease pathologies. TRIM72 (MG53) has been directly linked with regulation of sarcolemmal membrane repair in striated muscle cells, including cardiomyocytes. Recently, we were first to identify that a novel tripartite motif family member, TRIM58, is a negative regulator of the cell membrane repair process in striated muscle cells. Overexpression of TRIM58 decreases the membrane repair capacity of cultured myoblasts as measured by dye occlusion following laser-mediated disruption of the sarcolemmal membrane. We also find that TRIM58 can directly interact with TRIM72/MG53 and alter signaling through phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K). Protein profiling experiments show that TRIM58 expression increases during the development of heart failure suggesting that TRIM58 may be relevant in the development of cardiac failure. Western blot and histological examination in both human (Fig.1) and mouse transverse aortic constriction (TAC) heart failure samples clearly show an increased expression of TRIM58 in cardiac tissue. Our results suggest that TRIM58 levels might serve as a potential prognostic marker and that TRIM58 may be a therapeutic target for the management of cardiovascular disease.

Crystal structure of TRIM20 C-terminal coiled-coil/B30.2 fragment: implications for the recognition of higher order oligomers.

Many tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) proteins, comprising RING-finger, B-Box, and coiled-coil domains, carry additional B30.2 domains on the C-terminus of the TRIM motif and are considered to be pattern recognition receptors involved in the detection of higher order oligomers (e.g. viral capsid proteins). To investigate the spatial architecture of domains in TRIM proteins we determined the crystal structure of the TRIM20Δ413 fragment at 2.4 Å resolution. This structure comprises the central helical scaffold (CHS) and C-terminal B30.2 domains and reveals an anti-parallel arrangement of CHS domains placing the B-box domains 170 Å apart from each other. Small-angle X-ray scattering confirmed that the linker between CHS and B30.2 domains is flexible in solution. The crystal structure suggests an interaction between the B30.2 domain and an extended stretch in the CHS domain, which involves residues that are mutated in the inherited disease Familial Mediterranean Fever. Dimerization of B30.2 domains by means of the CHS domain is crucial for TRIM20 to bind pro-IL-1β in vitro. To exemplify how TRIM proteins could be involved in binding higher order oligomers we discuss three possible models for the TRIM5α/HIV-1 capsid interaction assuming different conformations of B30.2 domains.

Molecular characterization, tissue distribution and expression analysis of TRIM25 in Gallus gallus domesticus

TRIM25, a member of the tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) family of proteins, plays an important role in cell proliferation, protein modification, and the RIG-I-mediated antiviral signaling pathway. However, relatively few studies have investigated the molecular characterization, tissue distribution, and potential function of TRIM25 in chickens. In this study, we cloned the full-length cDNA of chicken TRIM25 that is composed of 2706bp. Sequence analyses revealed that TRIM25 contains a 1902-bp open-reading frame that probably encodes a 633-amino acid protein. Multiple comparisons with deduced amino acid sequences revealed that the RING finger and B30.2 domains of chicken TRIM25 share a high sequence similarity with human and murine TRIM25, indicating that these domains are critical for the function of chicken TRIM25. qPCR assays revealed that TRIM25 is highly expressed in the spleen, thymus and lungs in chickens. Furthermore, we observed that TRIM25 expression was significantly upregulated both in vitro and in vivo following infection with Newcastle disease virus. TRIM25 expression was also significantly upregulated in chicken embryo fibroblasts upon stimulation with poly(I:C) or poly(dA:dT). Taken together, these findings suggest that TRIM25 plays an important role in antiviral signaling pathways in chickens.

Knockdown of tripartite motif containing 24 by lentivirus suppresses cell growth and induces apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells.

Colorectal cancer remains one of the most common cancers in men and women, and it accounts for a large proportion of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins are a novel class of “single protein RING finger” E3 ubiquitin ligases, which have been shown to be involved in many cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of TRIM24 in human colorectal cancer. By using a lentivirus-mediated RNA interference system, we first explored the effect of TRIM24 knockdown on HCT116 cell proliferation and colony formation. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis was used to examine its effects on cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. Our data showed that knockdown of TRIM24 expression in HCT116 cells significantly decreased cell growth due to the induction of apoptosis. Hence, the present study provides evidence that TRIM24 functions as an oncogene in colorectal carcinogenesis.

Overlapping and distinct molecular determinants dictating the antiviral activities of TRIM56 against flaviviruses and coronavirus.

The tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) proteins have emerged as a new class of host antiviral restriction factors, with several demonstrating roles in regulating innate antiviral responses. Of >70 known TRIMs, TRIM56 inhibits replication of bovine viral diarrhea virus, a ruminant pestivirus of the family Flaviviridae, but has no appreciable effect on vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a rhabdovirus. Yet the antiviral spectrum of TRIM56 remains undefined. In particular, how TRIM56 impacts human-pathogenic viruses is unknown. Also unclear are the molecular determinants governing the antiviral activities of TRIM56. Herein, we show that TRIM56 poses a barrier to infections by yellow fever virus (YFV), dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2), and human coronavirus virus (HCoV) OC43 but not encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). Moreover, by engineering cell lines conditionally expressing various TRIM56 mutants, we demonstrated that TRIM56's antiflavivirus effects required both the E3 ligase activity that lies in the N-terminal RING domain and the integrity of its C-terminal portion, while the restriction of HCoV-OC43 relied upon the TRIM56 E3 ligase activity alone. Furthermore, TRIM56 was revealed to impair YFV and DENV2 propagation by suppressing intracellular viral RNA accumulation but to compromise HCoV-OC43 infection at a later step in the viral life cycle, suggesting that distinct TRIM56 domains accommodate differing antiviral mechanisms. Altogether, TRIM56 is a versatile antiviral host factor that confers resistance to YFV, DENV2, and HCoV-OC43 through overlapping and distinct molecular determinants. We previously reported tripartite motif protein 56 (TRIM56) as a host restriction factor of bovine viral diarrhea virus, a ruminant pathogen. However, the impact of TRIM56 on human-pathogenic RNA viruses is unknown. Herein, we demonstrate that TRIM56 restricts two medically important flaviviruses, yellow fever virus (YFV) and dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV2), and a human coronavirus, HCoV-OC43, but not encephalomyocarditis virus, a picornavirus. Further, we show that TRIM56-mediated inhibition of HCoV-OC43 multiplication depends solely on its E3 ligase activity, whereas its restriction of YFV and DENV2 requires both the E3 ligase activity and integrity of the C-terminal portion. The differing molecular determinants appear to accommodate distinct antiviral mechanisms TRIM56 adopts to target different families of viruses; while TRIM56 curbs intracellular YFV/DENV2 RNA replication, it acts at a later step in HCoV-OC43 life cycle. These novel findings illuminate the molecular basis of the versatility and specificity of TRIM56's antiviral activities against positive-strand RNA viruses.

TRIM68 negatively regulates IFN-β production by degrading TRK fused gene, a novel driver of IFN-β downstream of anti-viral detection systems.

In recent years members of the tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) family of E3 ubiquitin ligases have been shown to both positively and negatively regulate viral defence and as such are emerging as compelling targets for modulating the anti-viral immune response. In this study we identify TRIM68, a close homologue of TRIM21, as a novel regulator of Toll-like receptor (TLR)- and RIG-I-like receptor (RLR)-driven type I IFN production. Proteomic analysis of TRIM68-containing complexes identified TRK-fused gene (TFG) as a potential TRIM68 target. Overexpression of TRIM68 and TFG confirmed their ability to associate, with TLR3 stimulation appearing to enhance the interaction. TFG is a known activator of NF-κB via its ability to interact with inhibitor of NF-κB kinase subunit gamma (IKK-γ) and TRAF family member-associated NF-κB activator (TANK). Our data identifies a novel role for TFG as a positive regulator of type I IFN production and suggests that TRIM68 targets TFG for lysosomal degradation, thus turning off TFG-mediated IFN-β production. Knockdown of TRIM68 in primary human monocytes resulted in enhanced levels of type I IFN and TFG following poly(I:C) treatment. Thus TRIM68 targets TFG, a novel regulator of IFN production, and in doing so turns off and limits type I IFN production in response to anti-viral detection systems.

Genome-Wide Scan for Copy Number Variation Association with Biomarker Quantitative Trait Loci in Aging

Biomarkers are emerging as important tools in the detection and monitoring of various diseases. A major limitation and challenge to effectively utilize biomarker signals is the limited understanding of factors contributing to their variance. As genetic variation is a major contributor to phenotypic variation, exploring genetic contributions is of great importance. Copy number variants (CNVs) offer an alternative genomic framework to understand contributions to phenotypic variance. A copy-number variation genome-wide association study was performed using 116 serum inflammatory biomarkers as quantitative trait in elderly normal controls to test the hypothesis that CNVs contribute to the phenotypic heterogeneity of serum biomarkers. Three chromosomal regions were associated with four biomarkers in trans. Transforming growth factor alpha (TG-alpha) serum levels were associated with CNV dosage at chr11:5,788 kb, soluble levels of receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (sRAGE) was associated with CNV dosage at chr8:40,183 kb and both thrombospondin-1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) were associated with CNV dosage at chr11:18,961 kb. The CNV at chr11:5,788 kb harbors 2 olfactory genes and the introns of Tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) gene cluster TRIM5&22 while the CNV at chr11:18,961 includes the Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor member X1. These trans associations may identify novel relationships in the relevant pathways and suggest that genetic variation can contribute to biomarker levels. The detected trans-association between MRGPRX1 and thrombospondin-1/TIMP-1 could implicate a novel pathway between pain/itching and inflammation. Cataloguing all genetic variants with an effect on biomarkers will serve as a tool to interpret epidemiological studies and establish causal relationships through Mendelian randomization.

The TRIM-FLMN protein TRIM45 directly interacts with RACK1 and negatively regulates PKC-mediated signaling pathway

The receptor for activated C-kinase (RACK1), a scaffolding protein that participates in the protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway, hasan important role in shuttling active PKCs to its substrate. Indeed, recent studies have revealed that RACK1 hasan important role in tumorigenesis and that enhancement of the feed-forward mechanism of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-Jun pathway via RACK1 is associated with constitutive activation of MEK(MAPK-ERKkinase)-ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase)signaling in human melanoma cells. Taken together, RACK1 additionally has a very important role in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Here, we show that one of the tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) family ubiquitin ligases, TRIM45, is a novel RACK1-interacting protein and downregulates MAPK signal transduction. Importantly, the expression of TRIM45 is induced when growth-promoting extracellular stimuli activate the MAPK signaling pathway, resulting in attenuation of activation of the MAPK pathway. These findings suggest that TRIM45 functions as a member of the negative feedback loop of the MAPK pathway.

MG53′s new identity

Mitsugumin 53 (MG53) is a relatively newly identified tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) family muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase that is expressed in skeletal muscle and the heart. It has been postulated to facilitate repair by targeting the site of an injury, and acting as a scaffold for assembly of a repair complex made up of dysferlin, annexin V, caveolin-3, and polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF). A recent letter published in Nature by Song et al. proposes an alternate function for MG53: as an E3 ligase that targets the insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) for degradation, therefore regulating muscle insulin signaling. This work is exciting, as it not only presents a novel role for MG53, but also suggests that muscle insulin signaling has a systemic influence on insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome.

TRIM dsDNA sensor to restrict innate immune response

The innate immune system, also known as the non-specific immune system, is the first line of defense utilized by the host to provide protection against infection by organisms. In order to combat infection by bacteria, viruses or fungi, host cells have evolved a repertoire of sophisticated systems to sense infection and trigger innate immune responses, through the engagement of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) or other pattern-recognition receptors on the cell surface.1 Upon the activation of pattern-recognition receptor, various immune responses are initiated, leading to the production of a variety of cytokines and pro-inflammatory factors such as type I interferons (IFN-α and IFN-β) by dendritic cells (DCs).2 However, these normally beneficial responses may lead to pathological consequences if they are not tightly controlled. For example, systemic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis and Sjogren's syndrome, develop in response to continuous inflammatory signals, which create a feedback amplification loop for autoimmune responses.3

Tripartite Motif Containing 28 (Trim28) Can Regulate Cell Proliferation by Bridging HDAC1/E2F Interactions

Trim28 appears up-regulated in many cancers. In early stage lung tumors high Trim28 correlates with increased overall survival and Trim28 reduces cell proliferation in model lung cancer cell lines through E2F interactions. Trim28 may have a tumor suppressing role in the early stages of lung cancer. These results suggest a complex role for Trim28 in lung cancer. Trim28 is a poorly understood transcriptional co-factor with pleiotropic biological activities. Although Trim28 mRNA is found in many studies to be up-regulated in both lung and breast cancer tissues relative to normal adjacent tissue, we found that within a panel of early-stage lung adenocarcinomas high levels of Trim28 protein correlate with better overall survival. This surprising observation suggests that Trim 28 may have anti-proliferative activity within tumors. To test this hypothesis, we used shRNAi to generate Trim28-knockdown breast and lung cancer cell lines and found that Trim28 depletion led to increased cell proliferation. Likewise, overexpression of Trim28 led to decreased cell proliferation. Confocal microscopy indicated co-localization of E2F3 and E2F4 with Trim28 within the cell nucleus, and co-immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that Trim28 can bind both E2F3 and E2F4. Trim28 overexpression inhibited the transcriptional activity of E2F3 and E2F4, whereas Trim28 deficiency enhanced their activity. Co-immunoprecipitations further indicated that Trim28 bridges an interaction between E2Fs 3 and 4 and HDAC1. Promoter-reporter assays demonstrated that the ability of HDAC1 to repress E2F3 and E2F4-driven transcription is dependent on Trim28. Trim28 depletion increased E2F3 and E2F4 DNA binding activity, as measured by chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays while simultaneously reducing HDAC1 binding. Finally, ChIP-ReChIP experiments demonstrated that Trim/E2F complexes exist on several E2F-regulated promoters. Taken together, these results suggest that Trim28 has anti-proliferative activity in lung cancers via repression of members of the E2F family that are critical for cell proliferation.

Transcriptional Profiling of Experimental CD8+Lymphocyte Depletion in Rhesus Macaques Infected with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVmac239

CD8(+) T cells inhibit virus replication in SIV-infected rhesus macaques. However, it is unclear to what extent the viral suppression mediated by CD8(+) T cells reflects direct killing of infected cells as opposed to indirect, noncytolytic mechanisms. In this study, we used functional genomics to investigate noncytolytic mechanisms of in vivo viral suppression mediated by CD8(+) lymphocytes. Eight chronically SIVmac239-infected rhesus macaques underwent CD8(+) lymphocyte depletion, and RNA from whole blood was obtained prior to depletion, during the nadir of CD8(+) cell depletion, and after CD8(+) lymphocyte numbers had rebounded. We observed significant downregulation of the expression of genes encoding factors that can suppress SIV replication, including the CCR5-binding chemokine CCL5/RANTES and CCL4 and several members of the tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) family. Surprisingly, we also noted a strong, widespread downregulation of α- and θ-defensins with anti-HIV activity, which are not expressed by CD8(+) T cells. After cessation of depleting antibody treatment, we observed induction of a transcriptional signature indicative of B lymphocyte activation. Validation experiments demonstrated that animals during this period had elevated levels of B cells coupled with higher expression of the proliferative marker Ki67, indicating that CD8(+) depletion triggered a potent expansion of B cell numbers. Collectively, these data identify antiviral pathways perturbed by in vivo CD8(+) T cell depletion that may contribute to noncytolytic control of SIV replication.

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 as a surrogate sensor of retroviral infection in human cells

The toll-like receptor (TLR)-7 has been shown to sense the retroviral infection. However, a surrogate sensor has been implicated. We examined whether retrovirus serves as a TLR3 ligand in human cells by utilizing cell lines LNCaP and PC-3 lacking TLR7, and the xenotropic murine leukemia virus-relamoted virus (XMRV) insensitive to human tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) 5, a newly characterized pattern recognition receptor (PRR). A dominant-negative TLR3 or a chemical inhibitor of TLR3 attenuated the XMRV-induced IP-10/CXCL10 expression, a marker of TLR3 response. These data clearly indicated that retroviral infection exemplified by XMRV activates the TLR3 signal in human cells.

Autoantigen TRIM21/Ro52 as a Possible Target for Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, systemic, and autoimmune disease, whose etiology is still unknown. Although there has been progress in the treatment of SLE through the use of glucocorticoid and immunosuppressive drugs, these drugs have limited efficacy and pose significant risks of toxicity. Moreover, prognosis of patients with SLE has remained difficult to assess. TRIM21/Ro52/SS-A1, a 52-kDa protein, is an autoantigen recognized by antibodies in sera of patients with SLE and Sjögren's syndrome (SS), another systemic autoimmune disease, and anti-TRIM21 antibodies have been used as a diagnostic marker for decades. TRIM21 belongs to the tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) super family, which has been found to play important roles in innate and acquired immunity. Recently, TRIM21 has been shown to be involved in both physiological immune responses and pathological autoimmune processes. For example, TRIM21 ubiquitylates proteins of the interferon-regulatory factor (IRF) family and regulates type I interferon and proinflammatory cytokines. In this paper, we summarize molecular features of TRIM21 revealed so far and discuss its potential as an attractive therapeutic target for SLE.

Specific expression of a TRIM-containing factor in ectoderm cells affects the skeletal morphogenetic program of the sea urchin embryo

In the indirect developing sea urchin embryo, the primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs) acquire most of the positional and temporal information from the overlying ectoderm for skeletal initiation and growth. In this study, we characterize the function of the novel gene strim1, which encodes a tripartite motif-containing (TRIM) protein, that adds to the list of genes constituting the epithelial-mesenchymal signaling network. We report that strim1 is expressed in ectoderm regions adjacent to the bilateral clusters of PMCs and that its misexpression leads to severe skeletal abnormalities. Reciprocally, knock down of strim1 function abrogates PMC positioning and blocks skeletogenesis. Blastomere transplantation experiments establish that the defects in PMC patterning, number and skeletal growth depend upon strim1 misexpression in ectoderm cells. Furthermore, clonal expression of strim1 into knocked down embryos locally restores skeletogenesis. We also provide evidence that the Otp and Pax2/5/8 regulators, as well as FGFA, but not VEGF, ligand act downstream to strim1 in ectoderm cells, and that strim1 triggers the expression of the PMC marker sm30, an ectoderm-signaling dependent gene. We conclude that the strim1 function elicits specific gene expression both in ectoderm cells and PMCs to guide the skeletal biomineralization during morphogenesis.

385 A first in human phase 1 study of the safety and pharmacokinetics of a novel Cdc7 inhibitor NMS-1116354, administered orally to patients with solid tumors

Tripartite Motif Containing 11 (TRIM11), a member of TRIM proteins is overexpressed in gliomas and lung cancer. However, the role of TRIM11 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown.Herein, we aimed to investigate the expression and clinical significance role of TRIM11 in HCC.In this study, our data showed significant higher TRIM11 in HCC tissues (n = 117) than in the matched non-tumor liver (NTL) tissues (P < 0.01). In consistent with above data, we also found TRIM11 protein expression was significantly increased compared with the matched NTL (P < 0.01) by immunohistochemistry analysis. Additionally, our results showed that TRIM11 protein expression in HCC tissues was significantly associated with pathological grade (P < 0.01), tumor postoperative metastasis (P = 0.031), recurrence (P = 0.022), and serum a-fetoprotein (AFP) (P < 0.01). Moreover, patients’ survival was negatively correlated with TRIM11 protein expression. Furthermore, we found that TRIM11 protein was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free (P < 0.01) and overall survival (P < 0.01) in HCC patients.Our data showed that TRIM11 expression was significantly elevated in HCC tissues. The overexpression of TRIM11 is closely associated with HCC progression and poor survival of the patients, indicating TRIM11 is a potential therapeutic target for HCC patients.