Citation
- Authors: Tang, S., Chen, T., Yu, Z., Zhu, X., Yang, M., Xie, B., Li, N., Cao, X., Wang, J.
- Year: 2014
- Journal: Nat Commun 5 4657
- Applications: in vitro / DNA, siRNA / INTERFERin-HTS, jetPEI
- Cell types:
- Name: Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages
Description: Primary mouse bone marrow macrophages
Known as: BMDM - Name: Mouse peritoneal macrophages
Description: Mouse primary peritoneal macrophage - Name: RAW 264.7
Description: Mouse monocytes/macrophages
Known as: RAW
- Name: Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages
Abstract
Host immune cells can detect and destruct invading pathogens via pattern-recognition receptors. Small Rap GTPases act as conserved molecular switches coupling extracellular signals to various cellular responses, but their roles as regulators in Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling have not been fully elucidated. Here we report that Ras guanine nucleotide-releasing protein 3 (RasGRP3), a guanine nucleotide-exchange factor activating Ras and Rap1, limits production of proinflammatory cytokines (especially IL-6) in macrophages by activating Rap1 on activation by low levels of TLR agonists. We demonstrate that RasGRP3, a dominant member of RasGRPs in macrophages, impairs TLR3/4/9-induced IL-6 production and relieves dextrane sulphate sodium-induced colitis and collagen-induced arthritis. In RasGRP3-deficient RAW264.7 cells obtained by CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, TLR3/4/9-induced activation of Rap1 was inhibited while ERK1/2 activation was enhanced. Our study suggests that RasGRP3 limits inflammatory response by activating Rap1 on low-intensity pathogen infection, setting a threshold for preventing excessive inflammatory response.