Activation of the Intracellular Pattern Recognition Receptor NOD2 Promotes Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) Cell Apoptosis and Provides a Survival Advantage in an Animal Model of AML
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
Authors: Buteyn, Nathaniel J.; Santhanam, Ramasamy; Merchand-Reyes, Giovanna; Murugesan, Rakesh A.; Dettorre, Gino M.; Byrd, John C.; Sarkar, Anasuya; Vasu, Sumithira; Mundy-Bosse, Bethany L.; Butchar, Jonathan P.; Tridandapani, Susheela
Abstract
TLRs, a family of membrane-bound pattern recognition receptors found on innate immune cells, have been well studied in the context of cancer therapy. Activation of these receptors has been shown to induce inflammatory anticancer events, including differentiation and apoptosis, across a wide variety of malignancies. In contrast, intracellular pattern recognition receptors such as NOD-like receptors have been minimally studied. NOD2 is a member of the NOD-like receptor family that initiates inflammatory signaling in response to the bacterial motif muramyl dipeptide. In this study, we examined the influence of NOD2 in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, demonstrating that IFN-gamma treatment upregulated the expression of NOD2 signaling pathway members SLC15A3 and SLC15A4, downstream signaling kinase RIPK2, and the NOD2 receptor itself. This priming allowed for effective induction of caspase-l-dependent cell death upon treatment with muramyl tripeptide phosphatidylethanolamine (MTP-PE), a synthetic ligand for NOD2. Furthermore, the combination of MTP-PE and IFN-gamma on AML blasts generated an inflammatory cytokine profile and activated NK cells. In a murine model of AML, dual treatment with MTP-PE and IFN-gamma led to a significant increase in mature CD27(-)CD11b(+) NK cells as well as a significant reduction in disease burden and extended survival. These results suggest that NOD2 activation, primed by IFN-gamma, may provide a novel therapeutic option for AML.
A regulatory region on RIPK2 is required for XIAP binding and NOD signaling activity
EMBO REPORTS
Authors: Heim, Valentin J.; Dagley, Laura F.; Stafford, Che A.; Hansen, Fynn M.; Clayer, Elise; Bankovacki, Aleksandra; Webb, Andrew, I; Lucet, Isabelle S.; Silke, John; Nachbur, Ueli
Abstract
Signaling via the intracellular pathogen receptors nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing proteins NOD1 and NOD2 requires receptor interacting kinase 2 (RIPK2), an adaptor kinase that can be targeted for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms of how RIPK2 contributes to NOD signaling are not completely understood. We generated FLAG-tagged RIPK2 knock-in mice using CRISPR/Cas9 technology to study NOD signaling mechanisms at the endogenous level. Using cells from these mice, we were able to generate a detailed map of post-translational modifications on RIPK2. Similar to other reports, we did not detect ubiquitination of RIPK2 lysine 209 during NOD2 signaling. However, using site-directed mutagenesis we identified a new regulatory region on RIPK2, which dictates the crucial interaction with the E3 ligase XIAP and downstream signaling outcomes.