Protein phosphatase 4 negatively regulates LPS cascade by inhibiting ubiquitination of TRAF6.

TRAF6 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that transduces signals from members of the TLR/IL-1R family. Multiple molecules have been found to associate with TRAF6 and exert their functions in this pathway. Herein, by yeast two-hybrid screen using TRAF6 as bait, we identified PP4 as a potential TRAF6-interacting protein. PP4 physically interacted with TRAF6 and was recruited to TLR4 complex upon LPS stimulation. PP4 negatively regulated LPS-induced and TRAF6-mediated NF-kappaB activation by inhibiting the ubiquitination of TRAF6. LPS stimulation also induced the expression of PP4. Taken together, our findings suggest that PP4 is a negative feedback regulator of LPS/TLR4 pathway.