NUMBL interacts with TAB2 and inhibits TNFalpha and IL-1beta-induced NF-kappaB activation

The cytokines TNFalpha and IL-1beta induce inflammation through activation of transcription factors NF-kappaB. TAB2 is an adapter protein that facilitates TNFalpha and IL-1beta-mediated NF-kappaB activation. In this work, using yeast two-hybrid system TAB2 was identified to interact with NUMBL. The interaction was further confirmed in vitro and in vivo. PTB domain of NUMBL and C-terminal region are required for their interaction. Overexpression of NUMBL inhibited TNFalpha, IL-1beta-induced activation of NF-kappaB signaling pathway. NUMBL also inhibited TAB2, TAK1, TRAF6 and RIP-induced activation of NF-kappaB in a dose-dependent manner. We found that NUMBL can impair TAB2 binding to TRAF6 or RIP and inhibit ubiquitination of TRAF6 enhanced by TAB2. Taken together, our data suggest that NUMBL is involved in negative regulation of NF-kappaB signaling through its interaction with TAB2. These findings also reveal the new functions of NUMBL and implicate that NUMBL potentially links Notch pathway to NF-kappaB pathway.