Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Characterization of Thymus-dependent and Thymus-independent Immunoglobulin Isotype Responses in Mice Using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay
06:15

Characterization of Thymus-dependent and Thymus-independent Immunoglobulin Isotype Responses in Mice Using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

Published on: September 7, 2018

Roles of tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 3 (TRAF3) and TRAF5 in immune cell functions

Joanne M Hildebrand1, Zuoan Yi, Claire M Buchta

  • 1Department of Microbiology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.

Immunological Reviews
|October 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors (TRAFs), particularly TRAF3 and TRAF5, play diverse regulatory roles in immune cells. These proteins are crucial for various signaling pathways beyond the TNFR-superfamily, including innate immunity and T-cell receptor signaling.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Signaling
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-associated factors (TRAFs) are key cytoplasmic signaling proteins.
  • TRAF3 and TRAF5 have garnered renewed interest for their roles in cellular regulation, especially within the immune system.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the diverse and distinct roles of TRAF3 and TRAF5 in cellular regulation.
  • To highlight their functions beyond the TNFR-superfamily, including innate immune and T-cell receptor signaling.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on TRAF3 and TRAF5 functions.
  • Analysis of TRAF3 and TRAF5 involvement in various signaling pathways.
  • Examination of TRAF3's role in ubiquitin-mediated post-translational modifications.

Main Results:

  • TRAF3 and TRAF5 exhibit multifaceted roles, varying by receptor and cell type.
  • These TRAFs are implicated in innate immune receptor, cytokine receptor, and T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling.
  • TRAF3 participates in ubiquitin-mediated regulatory post-translational modifications crucial for signaling.

Conclusions:

  • TRAF3 and TRAF5 are critical regulators in immune cell signaling with broad pathway involvement.
  • Their functions extend beyond traditional TNFR-superfamily signaling, impacting innate and adaptive immunity.
  • TRAF3's interactions and ubiquitin-modulating activities are central to cellular regulation.

More Related Videos

Screening Bioactive Nanoparticles in Phagocytic Immune Cells for Inhibitors of Toll-like Receptor Signaling09:51

Screening Bioactive Nanoparticles in Phagocytic Immune Cells for Inhibitors of Toll-like Receptor Signaling

Published on: July 26, 2017

Related Concept Videos

T Cell Types and Functions01:24

T Cell Types and Functions

When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Enzyme-linked Receptors01:00

Enzyme-linked Receptors

Enzyme-linked receptors are proteins that act as both receptor and enzyme, activating multiple intracellular signals. This is a large group of receptors that include the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family. Many growth factors and hormones bind to and activate the RTKs.
Neurotrophin (NT) receptors are a family of RTKs, including trkA, trkB, and trkC (tropomyosin-related kinase) receptors. TrkA is specific for nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-6, and neurotrophin-7. TrkB binds...
TGF - β Signaling Pathway01:16

TGF - β Signaling Pathway

The TGF-β signaling pathway regulates cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, motility, and development. TGF-β ligands that induce TGF-β signaling are synthesized in their latent form. Several proteases or cell surface receptors such as integrins act upon the latent form, releasing the active ligand. There are three types of mammalian TGF-βs: (TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3) that bind as homodimers or heterodimers to TGF-β receptors. The TGF-β receptors are of three kinds RI, RII, and RIII. The RI...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway02:26

NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway

The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...