Role of CLIC4 in the host innate responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

TitleRole of CLIC4 in the host innate responses to bacterial lipopolysaccharide.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsHe G, Ma Y, Chou S-Y, Li H, Yang C, Chuang J-Z, Sung C-H, Ding A
JournalEur J Immunol
Volume41
Issue5
Pagination1221-30
Date Published2011 May
ISSN1521-4141
KeywordsAnimals, Blotting, Western, Cell Line, Chemokines, Chloride Channels, Cytokines, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Escherichia coli, Gene Expression Regulation, Genotype, Immunity, Innate, Interferon Regulatory Factor-3, Lipopolysaccharides, Listeria monocytogenes, Listeriosis, Macrophages, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Knockout, Mitochondrial Proteins, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases, NF-kappa B, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Shock, Septic, Signal Transduction
Abstract

Chloride intracellular channel (CLIC) 4 has diverse functions in membrane trafficking, apoptosis, angiogenesis and cell differentiation. CLIC4 is abundantly expressed in macrophages, but its role in innate immune functions is unclear. Here, we show that primary murine macrophages express increased amounts of CLIC4 after exposure to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Endogenous CLIC4 level was significantly elevated in the brain, heart, lung, kidney, liver and spleen after LPS injection of mice. Stable macrophage lines overexpressing CLIC4 produced more TNF, IL-6, IL-12 and CCL5 than mock transfectants when exposed to LPS. To explore the role of CLIC4 in vivo, we generated CLIC4-null mice. These mice were protected from LPS-induced death, and had reduced serum levels of inflammatory cytokines. Upon infection with Listeria monocytogenes, CLIC4-deficient mice were impaired in their ability to clear infection, and their macrophages responded to Listeria by producing less inflammatory cytokines and chemokines than the WT controls. When challenged with LPS in vitro, deletion of clic4 gene had little effect on MAPK and NF-κB activation, but led to a reduced accumulation of phosphorylated interferon response factor 3 (IRF3) within macrophages. Conversely, overexpression of CLIC4 enhanced LPS-mediated IRF3. Thus, these findings suggest that CLIC4 is an LPS-induced product that can serve as a positive regulator of LPS signaling.

DOI10.1002/eji.201041266
Alternate JournalEur. J. Immunol.
PubMed ID21469130
PubMed Central IDPMC3099427
Grant ListR01 GM061710-08 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
EY016805 / EY / NEI NIH HHS / United States
R01 EY016805 / EY / NEI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI030165-09 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 AI030165 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
R01 GM061710 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R01 EY016805-01A1 / EY / NEI NIH HHS / United States
R01 EY011307 / EY / NEI NIH HHS / United States
AI030165 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States