Data Source: Sanford-Burnham Center for Chemical Genomics (SBCCG)
Source Affiliation: Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (SBMRI, San Diego, CA)
Network: NIH Molecular Libraries Probe Production Centers Network (MLPCN)
Grant Number: 1 X01 MH077633-01
Assay Provider: Dr. John C. Reed, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, San Diego CA

Many cellular pathways leading to activation of NF-kB-family transcription factors have been identified to be participating in host-defense, immunity, inflammation, and cancer. Recently, a unique pathway activated by antigen receptors on T- and B-Lymphocytes has been revealed, involving a cascade of participating proteins that includes CARMA1 (BIMP3), Bcl-10, paracaspase (MALT1), TRAF6, and Ubc13. This pathway is initiated by Protein Kinase C-theta, which induces phosphorylation of components of this signaling pathway [1]. Based on experiments using siRNA and dominant-negative mutants, it has been determined that treatment of cells with the combination of phorbol ester PMA and the calcium-ionophore Ionomycin triggers this pathway, resulting in NF-kB activation [2-5]. Compounds able to block this stimulation will be useful research tools for analysis of the physiological roles of this NF-kB activation pathway.

This assay was originally assigned to the Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center (TSRI MSC) by the NIH during the MLSCN pilot phase("Primary HTS assay for chemical inhibitors of antigen receptor-induced NF-kappaB activation", AID 465.) In the original MLSCN screen a stably transfected reporter epithelial cell line (HEK293) that contains a luciferase gene driven by a NF-kB responsive promoter was used for compound library screening. The hits identified from that screen were very much less potent when tested in T cell lines. Therefore, in this rescreening paradigm, the primary screen will be accomplished using an NF-kB-luciferase reporter cloned into a T-cell line (Jurkat). The goal therefore is to identify compounds that selectively inhibit one of the several known pathways that lead to NF-kB activation in mammalian cells in a T-cell specific manner.


References

[1] Thome M. CARMA1, BCL-10 and MALT1 in lymphocyte development and activation. Nat Rev Immunol. 2004 May;4(5):348-59. Review

[2] Ruland J, Duncan GS, Elia A, del Barco Barrantes I, Nguyen L, Plyte S, Millar DG, Bouchard D, Wakeham A, Ohashi PS, Mak TW. Bcl10 is a positive regulator of antigen receptor-induced activation of NF-kappaB and neural tube closure. Cell. 2001 Jan 12;104(1):33-42

[3] McAllister-Lucas LM, Inohara N, Lucas PC, Ruland J, Benito A, Li Q, Chen S, Chen FF, Yamaoka S, Verma IM, Mak TW, Nunez G. Bimp1, a MAGUK family member linking protein kinase C activation to Bcl10-mediated NF-kappaB induction. J Biol Chem. 2001 Aug 17;276(33):30589-97

[4] Ruefli-Brasse AA, French DM, Dixit VM. Regulation of NF-kappaB-dependent lymphocyte activation and development by paracaspase. Science. 2003 Nov 28;302(5650):1581-4

[5] Zhou H, Wertz I, O'Rourke K, Ultsch M, Seshagiri S, Eby M, Xiao W, Dixit VM. Bcl10 activates the NF-kappaB pathway through ubiquitination of NEMO. Nature. 2004 Jan 8;427(6970):167-71

Please see pertinent AIDs: 435003, 493251, 504487, 504514, 504517, 504664, 504665, 504671

Probe molecules are defined as the positives of this assay and assigned a score of 100. Testing has not progressed to the point where a probe molecule has been identified.

Grant Number: 1 X01 MH077633-01