A20 Is a Negative Regulator of IFN Regulatory Factor 3 Signaling

IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3) is a critical transcription factor that regulates an establishment of innate immune status following detection of viral pathogens. Recent studies have revealed that two IκB kinase (IKK)-like kinases, NF-κB-activating kinase/Traf family member-associated NF-κB activator-binding kinase 1 and IKK-i/IKKε, are responsible for activation of IRF-3, but the regulatory mechanism of the IRF-3 signaling pathway has not been fully understood. In this study, we report that IRF-3 activation is suppressed by A20, which was initially identified as an inhibitor of apoptosis and inducibly expressed by dsRNA. A20 physically interacts with NF-κB-activating kinase/Traf family member-associated NF-κB activator-binding kinase 1 and IKK-i/IKKε, and inhibits dimerization of IRF-3 following engagement of TLR3 by dsRNA or Newcastle disease virus infection, leading to suppression of the IFN stimulation response element- and IFN-β promoter-dependent transcription. Importantly, knocking down of A20 expression by RNA interference results in enhanced IRF-3-dependent transcription triggered by the stimulation of TLR3 or virus infection. Our study thus demonstrates that A20 is a candidate negative regulator of the signaling cascade to IRF-3 activation in the innate antiviral response.