Post-transcriptional regulation of IL-6 has been largely uncharacterized, with the exception of the ribonuclease Regnase-1, which prevents autoimmunity by destabilizing IL-6 mRNA.

The authors identified AT-rich interactive domain-containing protein 5A (Arid5a) as a unique RNA binding protein, which stabilizes IL-6 but not TNF-alpha mRNA through binding to the 3' untranslated region of IL-6 mRNA. Arid5a was enhanced in macrophages in response to LPS, IL-1beta, and IL-6. Arid5a deficiency inhibited elevation of IL-6 serum level in LPS-treated mice and suppressed IL-6 levels and the development of TH17 cells in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.Importantly, Arid5a inhibited the destabilizing effect of Regnase-1 on IL-6 mRNA.

These results indicate that Arid5a plays an important role in promotion of inflammatory processes and autoimmune diseases.

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Contact:

Tadamitsu KISHIMOTO
Immune Regulation
Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University