Induction of TRIM22 by IFN-γ Involves JAK and PC-PLC/PKC, but Not MAPKs and pI3K/Akt/mTOR Pathways.

Tripartite motif (TRIM) 22 plays an important role in interferons (IFNs)-mediated antiviral activity. We previously demonstrated that interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) played a central role in IFN-γ-induced TRIM22 expression via binding to a special cis-element named 5' extended IFN-stimulating response element (5'eISRE). In this study, we sought to identify the signaling pathways involved in TRIM22 induction by IFN-γ. By using various pharmacological inhibitors, it was found that the activity of tyrosine kinase and phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase C (PC-PLC), but not phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C (PI-PLC) and phospholipase D (PLD), was required for IFN-γ-induced TRIM22 expression in HepG2 cells. Tyrosine kinase Janus kinase (JAK), not SRC and PYK2, played an indispensable role in TRIM22 induction. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) activity also significantly attenuated IFN-γ induction of TRIM22. Although treatment with IFN-γ resulted in the stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) (p38, ERK, and JNK) and pI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways in HepG2 cells, the inhibition of their activity did not affect IFN-γ-stimulated TRIM22 expression. Further studies showed that overexpression of JAK1 and PKCα activated TRIM22 promoter activity in a 5'eISRE-dependent manner, and inhibition of not only JAK but also PC-PLC/PKC pathways significantly attenuated IFN-γ-induced IRF-1 expression in HepG2 cells. Taken together, these data indicated that IFN-γ induced TRIM22 expression via activation of JAK and PC-PLC/PKC signaling pathways, which involved the cis-element 5'eISRE and the transactivator IRF-1.