Pellino Proteins and Innate Immune Response Signaling
Summary
Pellino proteins constitute a conserved family of E3 ubiquitin ligases, comprising Pellino1, Pellino2 and Pellino3, that orchestrate critical nodes in innate immune signalling. They function downstream of pattern recognition receptors such as interleukin-1 receptors and Toll-like receptors, catalysing K63-linked polyubiquitination of adaptor molecules and kinases including IRAKs, TRAF6 and TAK1. This modification promotes assembly of signalling complexes that activate transcription factors NF-κB, MAPKs and interferon regulatory factors, thereby regulating cytokine production, antiviral defences and cell-death pathways such as apoptosis, pyroptosis and autophagy. Aberrant Pellino activity has been implicated in chronic inflammatory disorders, viral pathogenesis and cancer, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets in modulating inflammatory and infectious diseases.
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Pellino Proteins and Innate Immune Response Signaling publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in pellino proteins and innate immune response signaling across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
E3 ubiquitin ligase: Enzyme that attaches ubiquitin chains to substrate proteins, thereby regulating their function, localisation or stability.
Pattern recognition receptor (PRR): Germline-encoded receptor that senses conserved microbial components to initiate innate immune responses.
Toll-like receptor (TLR): A subset of PRRs that recognise distinct pathogen-associated molecular patterns and activate downstream signalling cascades.
K63-linked polyubiquitination: Ubiquitin chain assembly via lysine 63 that promotes signal transduction complex formation rather than proteasomal degradation.
NF-κB: A family of transcription factors central to the expression of genes involved in inflammation, immunity and cell survival.
References
- Biology of Pellino1: a potential therapeutic target for inflammation in diseases and cancers. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
- Pellino Proteins in Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis. Viruses (2023).
- The Emerging Roles of Pellino Family in Pattern Recognition Receptor Signaling. Frontiers in Immunology (2022).
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