The NLR adaptor ASC/PYCARD regulates DUSP10, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and chemokine induction independent of the inflammasome

J Biol Chem. 2011 Jun 3;286(22):19605-16. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.221077. Epub 2011 Apr 12.

Abstract

ASC/PYCARD is a common adaptor for a diverse set of inflammasomes that activate caspase-1, most prominently the NLR-based inflammasome. Mounting evidence indicates that ASC and these NLRs also elicit non-overlapping functions, but the molecular basis for this difference is unclear. To address this, we performed microarray and network analysis of ASC shRNA knockdown cells. In pathogen-infected cells, an ASC-dependent interactome is centered on the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) ERK and on multiple chemokines. ASC did not affect the expression of MAPK but affected its phosphorylation by pathogens and Toll-like receptor agonists via suppression of the dual-specificity phosphatase, DUSP10/MKP5. Chemokine induction, DUSP function, and MAPK phosphorylation were independent of caspase-1 and IL-1β. MAPK activation by pathogen was abrogated in Asc(-/-) but not Nlrp3(-/-), Nlrc4(-/-), or Casp1(-/-) macrophages. These results demonstrate a function for ASC that is distinct from the inflammasome in modulating MAPK activity and chemokine expression and further identify DUSP10 as a novel ASC target.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • Cell Line
  • Chemokines / biosynthesis*
  • Chemokines / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Dual-Specificity Phosphatases / genetics
  • Dual-Specificity Phosphatases / metabolism*
  • Enzyme Activation / physiology
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / genetics
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism*
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatases / genetics
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • Chemokines
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Inflammasomes
  • PYCARD protein, human
  • Pycard protein, mouse
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • DUSP10 protein, human
  • Dusp10 protein, mouse
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatases
  • Dual-Specificity Phosphatases