<jats:p>NLRs (nucleotide-binding domain [NBD] leucine-rich repeat [LRR]–containing proteins) exhibit diverse functions in innate and adaptive immunity. NAIPs (NLR family, apoptosis inhibitory proteins) are NLRs that appear to function as cytosolic immunoreceptors for specific bacterial proteins, including flagellin and the inner rod and needle proteins of bacterial type III secretion systems (T3SSs). Despite strong biochemical evidence implicating NAIPs in specific detection of bacterial ligands, genetic evidence has been lacking. Here we report the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to generate <jats:italic>Naip1<jats:sup>−/−</jats:sup></jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Naip2<jats:sup>−/−</jats:sup></jats:italic> mice, as well as <jats:italic>Naip1-6<jats:sup>Δ/Δ</jats:sup></jats:italic> mice lacking all functional <jats:italic>Naip</jats:italic> genes. By challenging <jats:italic>Naip1<jats:sup>−/−</jats:sup></jats:italic> or <jats:italic>Naip2<jats:sup>−/−</jats:sup></jats:italic> mice with specific bacterial ligands in vivo, we demonstrate that <jats:italic>Naip1</jats:italic> is uniquely required to detect T3SS needle protein and <jats:italic>Naip2</jats:italic> is uniquely required to detect T3SS inner rod protein, but neither <jats:italic>Naip1</jats:italic> nor <jats:italic>Naip2</jats:italic> is required for detection of flagellin. Previously generated <jats:italic>Naip5<jats:sup>−/−</jats:sup></jats:italic> mice retain some residual responsiveness to flagellin in vivo, whereas <jats:italic>Naip1-6<jats:sup>Δ/Δ</jats:sup></jats:italic> mice fail to respond to cytosolic flagellin, consistent with previous biochemical data implicating NAIP6 in flagellin detection. Our results provide genetic evidence that specific NAIP proteins function to detect specific bacterial proteins in vivo.</jats:p>
Journal article
The Journal of Experimental Medicine
Rockefeller University Press
02/05/2016
213
657 - 665