CD4+ T cells are the master regulators of adaptive immune responses, and a breakdown of self-tolerance in CD4+ cells leads to many autoimmune diseases. Understanding of the mechanisms underlying T cell tolerance will provide new significant insight in advancing our knowledge on the signaling and genetic controls of T helper (TH) cell tolerance programs that may have therapeutic implications for inflammatory diseases. Recently, we have acknowledged the essential role of GRAIL in immunological tolerance. Despite the critical role of GRAIL in T cell tolerance, GRAIL knockout (KO) mice do not spontaneously develop autoimmunity at early age, suggesting that closely-related protein(s) to GRAIL could contribute to control of the early onset of inflammation. Interestingly, among the five GRAIL homologs, RNF133 shows the highest expression in tolerant T cells, suggesting that RNF133 along with GRAIL could contribute to establishment of T cell tolerance; however its role in T cells has not been studied. RNF133 KO CD4+ T cells activated in vitro and in vivo under tolerogenic conditions exhibited enhanced level of proliferation and cytokine (interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-21) production compared to wild-type (WT) T cells, indicating the potential role of RNF133 in controlling TH (TH17 and T follicular (Tfh)) cell responses. In fact, RNF133 KO mice have elevated levels of IgG and IgG1 in the sera and percentage of TH17 and Tfh cells in the peripheral lymphoid tissues as early as 12 weeks of age followed by rise of autoimmune symptoms at 5-6 months of age. Moreover, RNF133 expression in regulatory T cells (Tregs) is essential to maintain their suppressive function, as well as stability and prevents them from acquiring pathogenic TH17 phenotype, suggesting that RNF133 functions to control pathogenic TH cell responses. Based on this, we hypothesize that RNF133 may be an important checkpoint molecule in maintaining immunological tolerance and in preventing the onset and development of inflammation.
In Aim 1, we propose to determine the molecular mechanisms responsible for regulation and function of RNF133 in T cell tolerance by utilizing conditional gene knockdown approaches and in vivo T cell tolerance models.
In Aim 2, we will determine the role of RNF133 in Tfh cell tolerance and underlying mechanisms as well. In addition, we will assess the mechanisms whereby RNF133 controls antibody-mediated autoimmunity.
In Aim 3, we will determine the mechanism(s) by which RNF133 regulates Tregs and TH17 cell programming and stability. The physiological significance of this finding will be assessed in an experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. We will employ yeast two-hybrid screening and reverse phase protein array assay to identify the exact target(s) of RNF133, which determines its function in TH programming. The proposed research will provide new significant insight into characterization of mechanisms underlying T cell tolerance that will lead to development of pharmacological approaches to promote the tolerance state in terms of autoimmunity.
T lymphocyte activation is tightly regulated to ensure effective elimination of invading pathogens, as well as maintaining tolerance against self-tissues; however, the mechanisms that control T cell tolerance are poorly understood. The central goal of this project is to determine whether function of E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF133 in T cells is an essential checkpoint in T helper (TH) cell tolerance and consequently is critical to prevent onset and development of inflammation. Thus, the current project will provide new significant insight in advancing our knowledge on the signaling and genetic controls of TH cell tolerance programs that will have therapeutic implications for inflammatory diseases.
