A novel and atypical NF-KB pro-inflammatory program regulated by a CamKII-proteasome axis is involved in the early activation of Muller glia by high glucose

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes with a heavy impact on the quality of life of subjects and with a dramatic burden for health and economic systems on a global scale. Although the pathogenesis of DR is largely unknown, several preclinical data have pointed out to a main role of Muller glia (MG), a cell type which spans across the retina layers providing nourishment and support for Retina Ganglion Cells (RGCs), in sensing hyper-glycemia and in acquiring a pro-inflammatory polarization in response to this insult. RESULTS: By using a validated experimental model of DR in vitro, rMC1 cells challenged with high glucose, we uncovered the induction of an early (within minutes) and atypical Nuclear Factor-kB (NF-kB) signalling pathway regulated by a calcium-dependent calmodulin kinase II (CamKII)-proteasome axis. Phosphorylation of proteasome subunit Rpt6 (at Serine 120) by CamKII stimulated the accelerated turnover of IkBα (i.e., the natural inhibitor of p65-50 transcription factor), regardless of the phosphorylation at Serine 32 which labels canonical NF-kB signalling. This event allowed the p65-p50 heterodimer to migrate into the nucleus and to induce transcription of IL-8, Il-1β and MCP-1. Pharmacological inhibition of CamKII as well as proteasome inhibition stopped this pro-inflammatory program, whereas introduction of a Rpt6 phospho-dead mutant (Rpt6-S120A) stimulated a paradoxical effect on NF-kB probably through the activation of a compensatory mechanism which may involve phosphorylation of 20S α4 subunit. CONCLUSIONS: This study introduces a novel pathway of MG activation by high glucose and casts some light on the biological relevance of proteasome post-translational modifications in modulating pathways regulated through targeted proteolysis. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13578-022-00839-x.