Negative regulation of the RLH signaling by the E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF114

The retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-like helicases (RLH)s are cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptors expressed in both immune and non-immune cells that are essential for detection of intracellular RNA products, primarily of viral origin. Upon binding to viral RNA, RLHs interact with mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS) to activate interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral responses. The RLH/MAVS signaling pathway is regulated by ubiquitination/deubiquitination, in which several ubiquitin-editing proteins play critical roles. The really interesting new gene (RING) finger protein 114 (RNF114) was originally identified as a psoriasis susceptibility gene broadly expressed in human tissues. Earlier studies implicated RNF114 in regulating cellular dsRNA responses, cell cycle progression, NF-κB activity and T-cell activation. We found that RNF114 inhibited cellular dsRNA responses and RLH-mediated IFN production. RNF114 functioned as an E3 ubiquitin ligase, and MAVS was identified as a potential target for RNF114-mediated polyubiquitination and degradation. Splenocytes and blood harvested from RNF114 KO showed increased basal IFN level and sensitized responses to dsRNA. However, RNF114 knockout mice failed to exhibit enhance resistance to infection by two acute RNA viruses. These data suggested the potential physiological function of RNF114 in inflammation and host antiviral responses, but demonstrate complexity in the regulation of innate immunity by ubiquitin ligases.