NLRC5 cooperates with the RFX transcription factor complex to induce MHC class I gene expression

J Immunol. 2012 May 15;188(10):4951-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1103160. Epub 2012 Apr 6.

Abstract

Tight regulation of MHC class I gene expression is critical for CD8 T cell activation and host adaptive-immune responses. The promoters of MHC class I genes contain a well-conserved core module, the W/S-X-Y motif, which assembles a nucleoprotein complex termed MHC enhanceosome. A member of the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat (NLR) protein family, NLRC5, is a newly identified transcriptional regulator of MHC class I genes. NLRC5 associates with and transactivates the proximal promoters of MHC class I genes, although the molecular mechanism of transactivation has not been understood. In this article, we show that NLRC5-mediated MHC class I gene induction requires the W/S and X1, X2 cis-regulatory elements. The transcription factors RFX5, RFXAP, and RFXANK/B, which compose the RFX protein complex and associate with the X1 box, cooperate with NLRC5 for MHC class I expression. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments revealed that NLRC5 specifically interacts with the RFX subunit RFXANK/B via its ankyrin repeats. In addition, we show that NLRC5 can cooperate with ATF1 and the transcriptional coactivators CBP/p300 and general control nonderepressible 5, which display histone acetyltransferase activity. Taken together, our data suggest that NLRC5 participates in an MHC class I-specific enhanceosome, which assembles on the conserved W/S-X-Y core module of the MHC class I proximal promoters, including the RFX factor components and CREB/ATF1 family transcription factors, to promote MHC class I gene expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activating Transcription Factor 1 / genetics
  • Activating Transcription Factor 1 / physiology
  • Amino Acid Motifs / genetics
  • Amino Acid Motifs / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HLA-B Antigens / biosynthesis
  • HLA-B Antigens / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology*
  • Multigene Family
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / immunology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / physiology*
  • Transcriptional Activation / immunology

Substances

  • ATF1 protein, human
  • Activating Transcription Factor 1
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • HLA-B Antigens
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • NLRC5 protein, human
  • Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors