Zinc finger protein ZBTB20 promotes Toll-like receptor-triggered innate immune responses by repressing IκBα gene transcription

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jul 2;110(27):11097-102. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1301257110. Epub 2013 Jun 17.

Abstract

Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is critical in innate response against invading pathogens. However, the molecular mechanisms for full activation of TLR-triggered innate immunity need to be fully elucidated. The broad complex tramtrack bric-a-brac/poxvirus and zinc finger (BTB/POZ) family is a class of transcription factors involved in many biological processes. However, few BTB/POZ proteins were reported to function in innate immune response. Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing 20 (ZBTB20), a member of BTB/POZ family, functions in neurogenesis and represses α-fetoprotein gene transcription in liver. However, the immunological functions of ZBTB20 remain unknown. Here, we found that myeloid cell-specific ZBTB20 KO mice were resistant to endotoxin shock and Escherichia coli-caused sepsis. ZBTB20 deficiency attenuated TLR-triggered production of proinflammatory cytokines and type I IFN in macrophages, which attributed to higher abundance of IκBα protein and impaired activity of NF-κB. Furthermore, ChIP and next generation high-throughput DNA sequencing assay showed that ZBTB20 specifically bound to IκBα gene promoter (+1 to +60 region) after TLR activation. ZBTB20 could inhibit IκBα gene transcription, govern IκBα protein expression, and then promote NF-κB activation. Therefore, transcriptional repressor ZBTB20 is needed to promote full activation of TLR signaling and TLR-triggered innate immune response by selectively suppressing the suppressor IκBα gene transcription.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Infections / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Infections / immunology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / pathology
  • Female
  • I-kappa B Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • I-kappa B Proteins / genetics*
  • I-kappa B Proteins / metabolism
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, 129 Strain
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myeloid Cells / immunology
  • Myeloid Cells / pathology
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Binding / genetics
  • Shock, Septic / genetics
  • Shock, Septic / immunology
  • Suppression, Genetic*
  • Toll-Like Receptors / physiology*
  • Transcription Factors / deficiency
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Transcription, Genetic / immunology*

Substances

  • I-kappa B Proteins
  • NF-kappa B
  • Nfkbia protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Transcription Factors
  • Zbtb20 protein, mouse
  • NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha