Preventing abnormal NF-κB activation and autoimmunity by Otub1-mediated p100 stabilization

Cell Res. 2019 Jun;29(6):474-485. doi: 10.1038/s41422-019-0174-3. Epub 2019 May 13.

Abstract

NF-κB, a family of transcription factors regulating diverse biological processes including immune responses, is activated by canonical and noncanonical pathways based on degradation of IκBα and processing of the IκB-like protein p100, respectively. Although p100 responds to noncanonical NF-κB stimuli for processing, it does not undergo degradation, but rather becomes accumulated, along with canonical NF-κB activation. We show here that the stability of p100 is tightly controlled by a deubiquitinase, Otub1. Otub1 deficiency not only promotes signal-induced p100 processing and noncanonical NF-κB activation but also causes steady-state p100 degradation, leading to aberrant NF-κB activation in the canonical pathway. B-cell-conditional deletion of Otub1 results in B-cell hyperplasia, antibody hyper-production, and lupus-like autoimmunity. Otub1-deficient B cells display aberrantly activated phenotypes and overproduce the cytokine IL-6, contributing to autoimmunity induction. Thus, maintenance of p100 stability by Otub1 serves as an unusual mechanism of NF-κB regulation that prevents autoimmunity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmunity*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / deficiency
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Protein Stability

Substances

  • I-kappa B Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • Deubiquitinating Enzymes
  • OTUB1 protein, human
  • Cysteine Endopeptidases