An shRNA-based screen of splicing regulators identifies SFRS3 as a negative regulator of IL-1β secretion

PLoS One. 2011;6(5):e19829. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019829. Epub 2011 May 17.

Abstract

The generation of diversity and plasticity of transcriptional programs are key components of effective vertebrate immune responses. The role of Alternative Splicing has been recognized, but it is underappreciated and poorly understood as a critical mechanism for the regulation and fine-tuning of physiological immune responses. Here we report the generation of loss-of-function phenotypes for a large collection of genes known or predicted to be involved in the splicing reaction and the identification of 19 novel regulators of IL-1β secretion in response to E. coli challenge of THP-1 cells. Twelve of these genes are required for IL-1β secretion, while seven are negative regulators of this process. Silencing of SFRS3 increased IL-1β secretion due to elevation of IL-1β and caspase-1 mRNA in addition to active caspase-1 levels. This study points to the relevance of splicing in the regulation of auto-inflammatory diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Caspase 1 / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Escherichia coli
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1beta / genetics
  • Interleukin-1beta / metabolism*
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • RNA Splicing / genetics*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism*
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Interleukin-1beta
  • NF-kappa B
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • SRSF3 protein, human
  • Serine-Arginine Splicing Factors
  • Caspase 1