Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Commun Biol. 2024 May 18;7(1):599. doi: 10.1038/s42003-024-06317-z.
Accumulating evidence suggests that endothelial cells can be useful therapeutic targets. One of the potential targets is an endothelial cell-specific protein, Roundabout4 (ROBO4). ROBO4 has been shown to ameliorate multiple diseases in mice, including infectious diseases and sepsis. However, its mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, using RNA-seq analysis, we found that ROBO4 downregulates prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), which encodes cyclooxygenase-2. Mechanistic analysis reveals that ROBO4 interacts with IQ motif-containing GTPase-activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) and TNF receptor-associated factor 7 (TRAF7), a ubiquitin E3 ligase. In this complex, ROBO4 enhances IQGAP1 ubiquitination through TRAF7, inhibits prolonged RAC1 activation, and decreases PTGS2 expression in inflammatory endothelial cells. In addition, Robo4-deficiency in mice exacerbates PTGS2-associated inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, edema, and pain. Thus, we reveal the molecular mechanism by which ROBO4 suppresses the inflammatory response and vascular hyperpermeability, highlighting its potential as a promising therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases.
越来越多的证据表明,内皮细胞可以作为有治疗价值的靶点。其中一个潜在的靶点是内皮细胞特异性蛋白,Roundabout4(ROBO4)。研究表明,ROBO4 可以改善包括传染病和败血症在内的多种疾病的小鼠模型,但它的作用机制尚不完全清楚。在这项研究中,我们通过 RNA-seq 分析发现,ROBO4 下调前列腺素内过氧化物合酶 2(PTGS2)的表达,PTGS2 编码环氧化酶-2。机制分析表明,ROBO4 与含有 IQ 基序的 GTP 酶激活蛋白 1(IQGAP1)和 TNF 受体相关因子 7(TRAF7)相互作用,TRAF7 是一种泛素 E3 连接酶。在这个复合物中,ROBO4 通过 TRAF7 增强 IQGAP1 的泛素化,抑制 RAC1 的持续激活,并减少炎症性内皮细胞中 PTGS2 的表达。此外,ROBO4 基因敲除的小鼠会加剧与 PTGS2 相关的炎症性疾病,包括关节炎、水肿和疼痛。因此,我们揭示了 ROBO4 抑制炎症反应和血管通透性增加的分子机制,强调了它作为炎症性疾病有治疗前景的潜在靶点。
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