LPS stimulation activates IKK and different MAP kinase pathways, as well as the PI3K-AktmTOR-p70 S6k pathway, a negative regulator of these MyD88-dependent intracellular signals. Here, we show that Cot/tpl2, a MAP3K responsible for the activation of the MKK1-Erk1/2, controls P-Ser473 Akt and P-Thr389 p70 S6k phosphorylation in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Analysis of the intracellular signalling in Cot/tpl2 KO macrophages versus WT macrophages reveals lower IjBa recovery and higher phosphorylation of JNK and p38a after 1 h of LPS stimulation. Moreover, Cot/tpl2 deficiency increases LPS-induced NO synthase 2 (NOS2) expression in macrophages. Inhibition of the PI3K pathway abolishes the differences in IjBa and NOS2 expression between Cot/tpl2 KO and WT macrophages following LPS administration. Furthermore, in zymosan-and polyI:C-stimulated macrophages, Cot/tpl2 mediates P-Ser473 Akt phosphorylation, increases IjBa levels and decreases NOS2 expression. In conclusion, these data reveal a novel role for the Cot/tpl2 pathway in mediating TLR activation of the Akt-mTOR-p70 S6k pathway, allowing Cot/tpl2 to fine-control the activation state of other signalling pathways.Key words: Akt . Cot/tpl2 . Macrophage . NO synthase 2 . p70 S6k . TLR
See accompanying Commentary by Martinez Supporting Information available online
IntroductionStimulation of TLRs by the different PAMPs triggers macrophage activation, starting a specific functional program that culminates in the production of inflammatory mediators. With the exception of TLR3, TLRs use MyD88 as a central intracellular adaptor, thereby activating multiple downstream intracellular pathways including IKK. TLR3 and TLR4 recruit the TRIF adaptor, which also activates IKK, but specifically activating TBK1 and the transcription factor IRF3 (reviewed in [1,2]). Translocation of IRF3 to the nucleus is necessary, although not sufficient, to induce IFN-b expression [3]. Most TLRs also activate the PI3K-Akt-mTOR-p70 S6k pathway, which is considered to be a negative regulator of TLR activation in macrophages and myeloid dendritic cells. Inhibition of this PI3K-Akt-mTOR-p70 S6k pathway in TLR-activated cells augments NO synthase 2 (NOS2) expression [4][5][6][7][8].Adequate TLR4 stimulation induces the formation of a TLR receptor complex that recruits proteins such as MyD88 and p85 PI3 K [9]. PI3K subsequently activates the Akt-mTOR-p70 S6k pathway. Moreover, TLR-bound MyD88 recruits IRAK4 and IRAK1. The phosphorylation of IRAK1 by IRAK4 facilitates TRAF6 [1,10]). Activated IKK-b phosphorylates p105 NF-kB at multiple residues [11][12][13], which targets the rapid degradation of p105 NF-kB to p50 NF-kB [11][12][13][14]. In resting cells, Cot/tpl-2 forms a stable and inactive complex with p105 NF-kB and ABIN2 (A20-binding inhibitor of NF-kB2), among other proteins, protecting Cot/tpl-2 from degradation. The partial proteolysis of p105 NFkB to p50 NF-kB releases Cot/tpl-2 from the complex [15][16][17][18][19][20]. Dissociated and adequately phosphorylated Cot/tpl2 [21][22][23][24] fully...