Posttranscriptional regulation of IL-13 in T cells: Role of the RNA-binding protein HuR

Background: IL-13, a critical cytokine in allergy, is regulated by as-yet-elusive mechanisms. Objective: We investigated IL-13 posttranscriptional regulation by HuR, a protein associating with adenylate-uridylate-rich elements in the 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNA, promoting mRNA stability and translation. Methods: IL-13 mRNA decay was monitored in human T_H2-skewed cells by using the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D. The IL-13 3′UTR was subcloned into an inducible β-globin reporter transiently expressed in H2 cells in the absence or presence of overexpressed HuR. Association of HuR with IL-13 mRNA was detected by means of immunoprecipitation of ribonucleoprotein complexes and a biotin pull-down assay. The effects of HuR transient overexpression and silencing on IL-13 expression were investigated. Results: IL-13 mRNA half-life increased significantly in restimulated T_H2-skewed cells compared with baseline values. Decay of β-globin mRNA was significantly faster in H2 cells transfected with the IL-13 3′UTR-containing plasmid than in those carrying a control vector. HuR overexpression increased the β-globin IL-13 3′UTR reporter half-life. Significant enrichment of IL-13 mRNA was produced by means of immunoprecipitation of Jurkat cell ribonucleoprotein complexes with anti-HuR. HuR binding to the IL-13 3′UTR was confirmed by means of pull-down assay of biotin-labeled RNA probes spanning the IL-13 3′UTR. Two-dimensional Western blot analysis showed stimulus-induced posttranslational modification of HuR. In Jurkat cells mitogen-induced IL-13 mRNA was significantly affected by HuR overexpression and silencing. Conclusions: Mitogen-induced IL-13 expression involves changes in transcript turnover and a change in phosphorylation of HuR and its association with the mRNA 3′UTR.