Transcription factor MafB-mediated inhibition of type I interferons in plasmacytoid dendritic cells

H Saiga, M Ueno, T Tanaka, T Kaisho… - International …, 2022 - academic.oup.com
H Saiga, M Ueno, T Tanaka, T Kaisho, K Hoshino
International Immunology, 2022academic.oup.com
Abstract Type I IFNs (IFN-α and IFN-β), immunomodulatory cytokines secreted from activated
plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), contribute to the innate defense against pathogenic
infections and the pathogenesis of the autoimmune disease psoriasis vulgaris. A previous
study has shown that an E26 transformation-specific (Ets) family transcription factor Spi-B
can transactivate the type I IFN promoter in synergy with IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-7 and is
required for type I IFN production in pDCs. However, the mechanism of negative regulation …
Abstract
Type I IFNs (IFN-α and IFN-β), immunomodulatory cytokines secreted from activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), contribute to the innate defense against pathogenic infections and the pathogenesis of the autoimmune disease psoriasis vulgaris. A previous study has shown that an E26 transformation-specific (Ets) family transcription factor Spi-B can transactivate the type I IFN promoter in synergy with IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-7 and is required for type I IFN production in pDCs. However, the mechanism of negative regulation of type I IFNs by pDCs remains unknown. In this study, we report that a basic leucine zipper (bZip) transcription factor v-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B (MafB) suppresses the induction of type I IFNs in pDCs. The elevated expression of MafB inhibited the transactivation of type I IFN genes in a dose-dependent manner. At the molecular level, MafB interacted with the Ets domain of Spi-B and interfered with IRF-7–Spi-B complexation. Decreased MafB mRNA expression and degradation of MafB protein in the early phase of immune responses led to the enhancement of type I IFNs in pDCs. In vivo studies indicated that MafB is involved in resistance against imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation. Overall, these findings demonstrate that MafB acts as a negative regulator of type I IFN induction in pDCs and plays an important role in maintaining immune homeostasis.
Oxford University Press