Epigenetically modulated LRRC33 acts as a negative physiological regulator for multiple Toll-like receptors

The members of a LRR family play crucial roles in the activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. We reported previously that LRRC33, a transmembrane protein of the LRR family, might potentially affect TLR-mediated activity. Here, we demonstrate that LRRC33 is a negative physiological regulator for multiple TLRs. Lrrc33(-/-) and Lrrc33(+/-) mice were more susceptible to TLR ligand challenges. The macrophages and DCs from Lrrc33(-/-) mice produced more proinflammatory cytokines than those of WT mice through increased activation of MAPK and NF-κB. Silencing LRRC33 also promoted multiple TLR-mediated activation in human moDCs. Notably, LRRC33 expression could be down-regulated by TLR ligands LPS, poly I:C, or PGN through H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 modification. In LPS-conditioned moDCs, reduced enrichment of H3K4me3 and increased H3K27me3 could be observed at the promoter region of LRRC33. Furthermore, silencing H3K4me3-associated factors MLL and RBBP5 not only decreased the enrichment of H3K4me3 but also down-regulated expression of LRRC33, whereas the expression of LRRC33 was up-regulated after silencing H3K27me3-associated factors EZH2 and EED. Thus, our results suggest that LRRC33 and TLRs may form a negative-feedback loop, which is important for the maintenance of immune homeostasis.