Rip1 mediates the Trif-dependent Toll-like receptor 3- and 4-induced NF-κB activation but does not contribute to interferon regulatory factor 3 activation

Rip1 is required for I kappa B kinase activation in response to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and has been implicated in the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) response to double-stranded RNA. Cytokine production is impaired when rip1-/- cells are treated with TNF-alpha, poly(I-C), or lipopolysaccharide, implicating Rip1 in the Trif-dependent TLR3 and TLR4 pathways. To examine the role of Rip1 in the Trif-dependent TLR4 pathway, we generated rip1(-/-) MyD88(-/-) cells. Lipopolysaccharide failed to stimulate NF-kappa B activation in rip1-/- MyD88-/- cells, revealing that Rip1 is also required for the Trif-dependent TLR4-induced NF-kappa B pathway. In addition to activating NF-kappa B, TLR3/4 pathways also stimulate interferon regulatory factor 3 activation. However, we find that Rip1 expression stimulates NF-kappa B but not interferon regulatory factor 3 activity. In the TNF-alpha pathway, Rip1 interacts with the E3 ubiquitin ligase Traf2 and is modified by polyubiquitin chains. Upon TLR3 activation, Rip1 is also modified by polyubiquitin chains and is recruited to TLR3 along with Traf6 and the ubiquitin-activated kinase Tak1. These studies suggest that Rip1 uses a similar, ubiquitin-dependent mechanism to activate I kappa B kinase-beta in response to TNF-alpha and TLR3 ligands.