Interferon response induced by Toll-like receptor signaling

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are essential for the recognition of distinct pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Activation of TLRs induces intracellular signaling pathways which lead to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and interferon (IFN)-inducible genes. TIR domain containing adaptor molecules in turn determine the signaling specificity of the response. Recent studies demonstrated that serine/threonine kinases IKK-i/TBK1 are critical for the regulation of IFN-beta as well as IFN-inducible genes. In response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), transfection of poly(I: C) and viral infection, embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from TBK1-deficient (TBK1-/-) mice show impaired production of IFN-inducible genes, but not proinflammatory cytokines. Although IKK-i(-/-) mice show normal production of these genes, MEFs from IKK-i/TBK1-doubly deficient mice were completely defective in the induction of IFN-beta as well as IFN-inducible genes in response to poly(I:C) stimulation. Activation of IFN-regulatory factor (IRF) 3 in response to LPS and poly( I: C) was abolished in IKK-i/TBK1 doubly deficient cells. Interestingly, intracellular transduction of poly( I: C) initiates activation of IFN response in a TLR3-independent manner. These observations demonstrate that IKK-i/TBK1 signaling is essential for both TLR3-dependent and TLR3-independent viral and dsRNA-induced IFN responses.