TRIM11 attenuates Treg cell differentiation by p62-selective autophagic degradation of AIM2

Abstract

Ubiquitination is an important protein modification that regulates diverse biological processes, including CD4⁺ T cell differentiation and functions. However, the function of most E3 ubiquitin ligases in CD4⁺ T cell differentiation and CD4⁺ T cell-mediated pathological diseases remains unclear. In this study, we find that tripartite motif-containing motif 11 (TRIM11) specifically negatively regulates regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation in CD4⁺ T cells and promotes autoimmune disease development in an AIM2-dependent manner. Mechanistically, TRIM11 interacts with absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) and promotes the selective autophagic degradation of AIM2 by inducing AIM2 ubiquitination and binding to p62 in CD4⁺ T cells. AIM2 attenuates AKT and FOXO1 phosphorylation, MYC signaling, and glycolysis, thereby promoting the stability of Treg cells during experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Our findings suggest that TRIM11 serves as a potential target for immunotherapeutic intervention for dysregulated immune responses that lead to autoimmunity and cancers.

Keywords: CP: Immunology; Treg cell differentiation; protein post-translational modification; selective autophagic degradation.