High susceptibility to lipopolysaccharide-induced lethal shock in encephalomyocarditis virus-infected mice

Secondary bacterial infection in humans is one of the pathological conditions requiring clinical attention. In this study, we examined the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) infected mice. All mice inoculated with EMCV at 5 days before LPS challenge died within 24 h. LPS-induced TNF-α mRNA expression was significantly increased in the brain and heart at 5 days after EMCV infection. CD11b+/TLR4+ cell population in the heart was remarkably elevated at 5 days after EMCV infection, and sorted CD11b+ cells at 5 days after EMCV infection produced a large amount of TNF-α on LPS stimulation in vivo and in vitro. In conclusion, we found that the infiltration of CD11b+ cells into infected organs is involved in the subsequent LPS-induced lethal shock in viral encephalomyocarditis. This new experimental model can help define the mechanism by which secondary bacterial infection causes a lethal shock in viral encephalomyocarditis

Ubiquitin ligase RNF167 regulates AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic transmission

AMPA receptors (AMPARs) mediate the majority of fast excitatory neurotransmission, and their density at postsynaptic sites determines synaptic strength. Ubiquitination is a posttranslational modification that dynamically regulates the synaptic expression of many proteins. However, very few of the ubiquitinating enzymes implicated in the process have been identified. In a screen to identify transmembrane RING domain-containing E3 ubiquitin ligases that regulate surface expression of AMPARs, we identified RNF167. Predominantly lysosomal, a subpopulation of RNF167 is located on the surface of cultured neurons. Using a RING mutant RNF167 or a specific shRNA to eliminate endogenous RNF167, we demonstrate that AMPAR surface expression increases in hippocampal neurons with disrupted RNF167 activity and that RNF167 is involved in activity-dependent ubiquitination of AMPARs. In addition, RNF167 regulates synaptic AMPAR currents, whereas synaptic NMDAR currents are unaffected. Therefore, our study identifies RNF167 as a selective regulator of AMPAR-mediated neurotransmission and expands our understanding of how ubiquitination dynamically regulates excitatory synapses