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The ubiquitin system: a critical regulator of innate immunity and pathogen–host interactions

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 13, pages 560–576 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

The ubiquitin system comprises enzymes that are responsible for ubiquitination and deubiquitination, as well as ubiquitin receptors that are capable of recognizing and deciphering the ubiquitin code, which act in coordination to regulate almost all host cellular processes, including host–pathogen interactions. In response to pathogen infection, the host innate immune system launches an array of distinct antimicrobial activities encompassing inflammatory signaling, phagosomal maturation, autophagy and apoptosis, all of which are fine-tuned by the ubiquitin system to eradicate the invading pathogens and to reduce concomitant host damage. By contrast, pathogens have evolved a cohort of exquisite strategies to evade host innate immunity by usurping the ubiquitin system for their own benefits. Here, we present recent advances regarding the ubiquitin system-mediated modulation of host–pathogen interplay, with a specific focus on host innate immune defenses and bacterial pathogen immune evasion.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge research funding from the National Basic Research Programs of China (Grant Nos 2012CB518700 and 2014CB744400), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 81371769 and 81571954) and the Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (Grant No. Y12A027BB2).

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  1. CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China

    Jie Li, Qi-Yao Chai & Cui Hua Liu

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Li, J., Chai, QY. & Liu, C. The ubiquitin system: a critical regulator of innate immunity and pathogen–host interactions. Cell Mol Immunol 13, 560–576 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2016.40

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