TAK1, but not TAB1 or TAB2, plays an essential role in multiple signaling pathways in vivo

TGF-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), a member of the MAPKKK family, is thought to be a key modulator of the inducible transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1 and, therefore, plays a crucial role in regulating the genes that mediate inflammation. Although in vitro biochemical studies have revealed the existence of a TAK1 complex, which includes TAK1 and the adapter proteins TAB1 and TAB2, it remains unclear which members of this complex are essential for signaling. To analyze the function of TAK1 in vivo, we have deleted the Tak1 gene in mice, with the resulting phenotype being early embryonic lethality. Using embryonic fibroblasts lacking TAK1, TAB1, or TAB2, we have found that TNFR1, IL-1R, TLR3, and TLR4-mediated NF-κB and AP-1 activation are severely impaired in Tak1 m/m cells, but they are normal in Tab1 -/- and Tab2 -/- cells. In addition, Tak1 m/m cells are highly sensitive to TNF-induced apoptosis. TAK1 mediates IKK activation in TNF-α and IL-1 signaling pathways, where it functions downstream of RIP1–TRAF2 and MyD88–IRAK1–TRAF6, respectively. However, TAK1 is not required for NF-κB activation through the alternative pathway following LT-β signaling. In the TGF-β signaling pathway, TAK1 deletion leads to impaired NF-κB and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation without impacting Smad2 activation or TGF-β-induced gene expression. Therefore, our studies suggests that TAK1 acts as an upstream activating kinase for IKKβ and JNK, but not IKKα, revealing an unexpectedly specific role of TAK1 in inflammatory signaling pathways.