Cytosolic RNA recognition pathway activates 14-3-3 protein mediated signaling and caspase-dependent disruption of cytokeratin network in human keratinocytes.

The skin is the primary boundary between the body and the environment. In addition to its properties as a physical barrier, skin keratinocytes actively participate in many defense mechanisms. Viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is the most important viral structure involved in activation of immune response. Intracellular detection of dsRNA by cytoplasmic receptors activates well-characterized antiviral response, as well as pro-inflammatory response and apoptosis of virus-infected cells. Here, we have used quantitative subcellular proteomics to characterize the signaling pathways activated by cytosolic dsRNA recognition pathway in human keratinocytes. Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial proteomes were analyzed using 2-DE in combination with MS, immunoblotting and confocal microscopy. We have identified 239 reproducibly differentially expressed proteins upon dsRNA stimulation. The identified proteins include several key proteins involved in cytoskeletal dynamics, cell signaling, cell death, and stress response. Our analysis provides novel information how the cytokeratin network is disrupted in a caspase-dependent manner upon dsRNA stimulation as well as Encephalomyocarditis virus or Vesicular stomatitis virus infection. We show that this caspase-dependent disruption of cytokeratin is activated by cytoplasmic RNA recognition pathway. In addition, we show that viral infection activates 14-3-3 protein mediated signaling pathways in human keratinocytes which suggest an important role of 14-3-3 proteins in antiviral innate immune response.