The ubiquitin ligase adaptor Ndfip1 regulates T cell-mediated gastrointestinal inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease susceptibility

Mucosal Immunol. 2011 May;4(3):314-24. doi: 10.1038/mi.2010.69. Epub 2010 Oct 20.

Abstract

Nedd4 family interacting protein 1 (Ndfip1) is an adaptor protein that regulates Itch, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that ubiquitylates JunB, thereby preventing interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 production. Mice lacking Ndfip1 or Itch develop T helper type 2 (T(H)2)-mediated inflammation in the skin and lungs and die prematurely. In this study we show that Ndfip1-/- mice also develop inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Inflammation is characterized by infiltration of eosinophils and T cells and is accompanied by a failure to gain weight. T cells are both necessary and sufficient for eosinophil recruitment and inflammation. This is because Ndfip1-/- T cells become activated and produce IL-5. Itch mutant mice develop much less severe gastrointestinal inflammation, suggesting that Ndfip1 regulation of Itch cannot entirely account for this phenotype and that Ndfip1 has both Itch-dependent and Itch-independent roles. Ndfip1 may also regulate human disease. We found single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the Ndfip1 locus that associate with inflammatory bowel disease. Taken together, our data support a role for Ndfip1 in gastrointestinal inflammation in both mice and humans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Carrier Proteins / immunology
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Movement / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Eosinophils / immunology
  • Eosinophils / metabolism*
  • Eosinophils / pathology
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Inflammation
  • Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / immunology*
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Interleukin-5 / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism*
  • Intestines / immunology
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Th1-Th2 Balance
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / immunology
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Interleukin-5
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Ndfip1 protein, mouse
  • Itch protein, mouse
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases