IRE1α induces thioredoxin-interacting protein to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and promote programmed cell death during endoplasmic reticulum stress

• Published in: Cell metabolism 2012-08, Vol.16 (2), p.250-264
• Main Authors: Lerner, Alana G., Upton, John-Paul, Praveen, P.V.K., Ghosh, Rajarshi, Nakagawa, Yoshimi, Igbaria, Aeid, Shen, Sarah, Nguyen, Vinh, Backes, Bradley J., Heiman, Myriam, Heintz, Nathaniel, Greengard, Paul, Hui, Simon, Tang, Qizhi, Trusina, Ala, Oakes, Scott A., Papa, Feroz R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1550-4131; 1932-7420
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2012.07.007

When unfolded proteins accumulate to irremediably high levels within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), intracellular signaling pathways called the unfolded protein response (UPR) become hyperactivated to cause programmed cell death. We discovered that thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) is a critical node in this “Terminal UPR.” TXNIP becomes rapidly induced by IRE1α, an ER bifunctional kinase/endoribonuclease (RNase). Hyperactivated IRE1α increases TXNIP mRNA stability by reducing levels of a TXNIP destabilizing micro-RNA, miR-17. In turn, elevated TXNIP protein activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, causing Caspase-1 cleavage and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) secretion. Txnip gene deletion reduces pancreatic β-cell death during ER stress, and suppresses diabetes caused by proinsulin misfolding in the Akita mouse. Finally, small molecule IRE1α RNase inhibitors suppress TXNIP production to block IL-1β secretion. In summary, the IRE1α-TXNIP pathway is used in the terminal UPR to promote sterile inflammation and programmed cell death, and may be targeted to develop effective treatments for cell degenerative diseases.