Identification of constitutively active interleukin 33 (IL-33) splice variant

J Biol Chem. 2011 Jun 3;286(22):20078-86. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.219089. Epub 2011 Mar 22.

Abstract

IL-33/IL-1F11 is a new member of the IL-1 family ligand and provokes T helper-type immune responses. IL-33 is the ligand of ST2 and IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP) that triggers nuclear factor-κ light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and MAPK signaling. We discovered a novel short splice variant of IL-33 that was termed spIL-33. The new spIL-33 lacks exon 3 containing a proposed caspase-1 cleavage site. We isolated spIL-33 cDNA from the Huh7 human hepatocarcinoma cell line and expressed the recombinant spIL-33 protein in Escherichia coli. The recombinant spIL-33 and pro-IL-33 were not cleaved by caspase-1, unlike IL-18 (IL-1F4). The recombinant spIL-33 was constitutively active, and spIL-33-induced inflammatory cytokine production was caspase-1-independent in HMC-1 and Raw 264.7 cells. The recombinant spIL-33 induced the phosphorylation of IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK1), NF-κB, p38 MAPK, p44/42 MAPK, and JNK in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Anti-ST2 monoclonal antibody specifically blocked the spIL-33-induced cytokine production. In this study, we identified and characterized a new IL-33 splice variant, which was a constitutively active IL-33 isoform. The existence of constitutively active spIL-33 suggests that the biological activity of IL-33 could be triggered by diverse stimulations during immune responses. Further investigation of the spIL-33 expression pattern may contribute to understanding the involvement of IL-33 in inflammatory disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alternative Splicing / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases / genetics
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases / metabolism
  • Interleukin-33
  • Interleukins / biosynthesis*
  • Interleukins / genetics
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphorylation / physiology
  • Protein Isoforms / biosynthesis
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Precursors / biosynthesis*
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Rats
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • U937 Cells

Substances

  • IL33 protein, human
  • Il33 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-33
  • Interleukins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Precursors
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • IRAK1 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases
  • Irak1 protein, mouse
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/HQ641439