Enhanced LPS-induced peritonitis in mice deficiency of cullin 4B in macrophages

Cullin 4B (CUL4B), a member of the cullin protein family, is a scaffold protein of the CUL4B-RING-E3 ligase complex that ubiquitinates intracellular proteins.CUL4B's targets include cell cycle-regulated proteins and DNA replication-related molecules. In this study, we generated myeloid-specific Cul4b-deficient mice (Cul4b(f/y);LysM-Cre(KI/KI)) to investigate the influence of Cul4b deficiency on innate immunity, especially on the function of macrophages. Our results show that an intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) led to a significant decrease in body weights and increased leukocyte infiltrates with increased chemokines in the peritoneal cavity of Cul4b(f/y);LysM-Cre(KI/KI) mice. However, the proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and TNF-alpha did not increase in LPS-injected Cul4b(f/y);LysM-Cre(KI/KI) mice. Furthermore, bone marrow-derived macrophages from Cul4b(f/y);LysM-Cre(KI/KI) mice secreted higher levels of chemokines but lower levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6 upon LPS stimulation. Of note, increased proliferation of Cul4b-deficient macrophages was also observed. These results show that myeloid-specific Cul4b deficiency worsens LPS-induced peritonitis. In addition, Cul4b deficiency leads to enhanced DNA replication and proliferation, increased production of chemokines but a decreased production of proinflammatory cytokiries of macrophages. Our data highlight a neW role of cullin family, CUL4B, in the immune system.