E3 ubiquitin ligase CHIP facilitates Toll-like receptor signaling by recruiting and polyubiquitinating Src and atypical PKCζ

The carboxyl terminus of constitutive heat shock cognate 70 (HSC70)–interacting protein (CHIP, also known as Stub1) is a U box–containing E3 ubiquitin ligase that is important for protein quality control. The role of CHIP in innate immunity is not known. Here, we report that CHIP knockdown inhibits Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4– and TLR9-driven signaling, but not TLR3-driven signaling; proinflammatory cytokine and type 1 interferon (IFN) production; and maturation of antigen-presenting cells, including macrophages and dendritic cells. We demonstrate that CHIP can recruit the tyrosine kinase Src and atypical protein kinase C ζ (PKCζ) to the TLR complex, thereby leading to activation of IL-1 receptor–associated kinase 1, TANK-binding kinase 1, and IFN regulatory factors 3 and 7. CHIP acts as an E3 ligase for Src and PKCζ during TLR signaling. CHIP-mediated enhancement of TLR signaling is inhibited by IFNAR deficiency or expression of ubiquitination resistant mutant forms of Src or PKCζ. These findings suggest that CHIP facilitates the formation of a TLR signaling complex by recruiting, ubiquitinating, and activating Src and PKCζ.