[HTML][HTML] The ER membrane-anchored ubiquitin ligase Hrd1 is a positive regulator of T-cell immunity

Y Xu, F Zhao, Q Qiu, K Chen, J Wei, Q Kong… - Nature …, 2016 - nature.com
Y Xu, F Zhao, Q Qiu, K Chen, J Wei, Q Kong, B Gao, J Melo-Cardenas, B Zhang, J Zhang
Nature communications, 2016nature.com
Identification of positive regulators of T-cell immunity induced during autoimmune diseases
is critical for developing novel therapies. The endoplasmic reticulum resident ubiquitin
ligase Hrd1 has recently emerged as a critical regulator of dendritic cell antigen
presentation, but its role in T-cell immunity is unknown. Here we show that genetic deletion
of Hrd1 in mice inhibits T-cell proliferation, production of IL-2, and differentiation of Th1 and
Th17 cells, and consequently protects mice from experimental autoimmune …
Abstract
Identification of positive regulators of T-cell immunity induced during autoimmune diseases is critical for developing novel therapies. The endoplasmic reticulum resident ubiquitin ligase Hrd1 has recently emerged as a critical regulator of dendritic cell antigen presentation, but its role in T-cell immunity is unknown. Here we show that genetic deletion of Hrd1 in mice inhibits T-cell proliferation, production of IL-2, and differentiation of Th1 and Th17 cells, and consequently protects mice from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Hrd1 facilitates T-cell proliferation by the destruction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27kip1, and deletion of p27kip1 in Hrd1-null T-cells rescues proliferative capacity but not the production of cytokines, including IL-2, IFN-γ and IL-17. T-cell expression of Hrd1 is higher in patients with multiple sclerosis than in healthy individuals, and knockdown of Hrd1 in human CD4+ T cells inhibits activation and differentiation to Th1 and Th17 cells. Our study identifies Hrd1 as a previously unappreciated positive regulator of T cells and implies that Hrd1 is a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases.
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