CD40-Induced TRAF degradation in immune regulation

CD40 is a TNF receptor superfamily (TNFRSF) member central to the development of many aspects of the adaptive immune response. CD40 signaling promotes adaptive immunity in part by inducing the expression of cytokines, chemokines, and various adhesion and co-stimulatory molecules. The family of cytoplasmic adapter proteins, the TNFR-associated factors (TRAFs), serve as major mediators of TNFRSF pathways. CD40 regulates itself in part via the signaling induced degradation of TRAF2 and TRAF3. However, the effect of CD40-induced TRAF degradation on other TRAF dependent pathways is unknown. Here I provide evidence that CD40-mediated degradation of TRAFs 2 and 3 also influences the responsiveness of immune cells to CD40-independent, TRAF2and 3-dependent pathways. LMP1 is a functional mimic of CD40, but signals to B lymphocytes in an amplified and sustained manner. LMP1 contributes to the development of B cell lymphoma in immunosuppressed patients, and may exacerbate flares of certain autoimmune diseases. The cytoplasmic (CY) domain of LMP1 binds TRAF2 with lower avidity than the CY domain of CD40, and TRAF2 is needed for CD40mediated degradation of TRAFs 2 and 3. LMP1 doesn't induce TRAF degradation, and employs TRAF3 as a positive mediator of cell signaling, whereas CD40 signals are inhibited by TRAF3. Here, I tested the hypothesis that relative affinity for TRAF2, and/or distinct sequence differences in the TRAF2/3 binding sites of CD40 vs. LMP1, controls the disparate ways in which CD40 and LMP1 use TRAFs 2 and 3. The results revealed that TRAF binding