OPTN recruitment to a Golgi-proximal compartment regulates immune signalling and cytokine secretion

Thomas O'Loughlin, Antonina J. Kruppa, Andre L. R. Ribeiro, James R. Edgar, Abdulaziz Ghannam, Andrew M. Smith, Folma Buss

Journal of Cell Science

Optineurin (OPTN) is a multifunctional protein involved in the immune response and a number of mutations have been associated with several human diseases. We have used a range of cutting edge high-resolution microscopy techniques, mass cytometry and gene editing protocols to gain an understanding of how OPTN and its disease associated mutations regulate the immune response during a viral infection.

Here we show that, OPTN negatively regulates the pro-inflammatory response upon viral stimulation. This regulation is disrupted in mutations in OPTN linked to primary open-angle glaucoma and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

These studies are now part of a major follow up study which is being performed in UCL Eastman Dental Institute and University of Cambridge. These results also led to funding from Crohn’s & Colitis UK to investigate IL-1β and OPTN further. 

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