Cutting Edge: A Natural Antisense Transcript, AS-IL1?, Controls Inducible Transcription of the Proinflammatory Cytokine IL-1?.

ABSTRACT: Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are a class of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are complementary to other protein-coding genes. Although thousands of NATs are encoded by mammalian genomes, their functions in innate immunity are unknown. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel NAT, AS-IL1?, which is partially complementary to IL-1?. Similar to IL-1?, AS-IL1? is expressed at low levels in resting macrophages and is induced following infection with Listeria monocytogenes or stimulation with TLR ligands (Pam3CSK4, LPS, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid). Inducible expression of IL-1? mRNA and protein were significantly reduced in macrophages expressing shRNA that target AS-IL1?. AS-IL1? is located in the nucleus and did not alter the stability of IL-1? mRNA. Instead, AS-IL1? was required for the recruitment of RNA polymerase II to the IL-1? promoter. In summary, our studies identify AS-IL1? as an important regulator of IL-1? transcription during the innate immune response.

SUBMITTER: Chan J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4530055 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature