The E3 ubiquitin ligase midline 1 promotes allergen and rhinovirus-induced asthma by inhibiting protein phosphatase 2A activity

Allergic airway inflammation is associated with activation of innate immune pathways by allergens. Acute exacerbations of asthma are commonly associated with rhinovirus infection. Here we show that, after exposure to house dust mite (HDM) or rhinovirus infection, the E3 ubiquitin ligase midline 1 (MID1) is upregulated in mouse bronchial epithelium. HDM regulates MID1 expression in a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)- and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)-dependent manner. MID1 decreases protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity through association with its catalytic subunit PP2Ac. siRNA-mediated knockdown of MID1 or pharmacological activation of PP2A using a nonphosphorylatable FTY720 analog in mice exposed to HDM reduces airway hyperreactivity and inflammation, including the expression of interleukin-25 (IL-25), IL-33 and CCL20, IL-5 and IL-13 release, nuclear factor (NF)κB activity, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, accumulation of eosinophils, T lymphocytes and myeloid dendritic cells, and the number of mucus-producing cells. MID1 inhibition also limited rhinovirus-induced exacerbation of allergic airway disease. We found that MID1 was upregulated in primary human bronchial epithelial cells upon HDM or rhinovirus exposure, and this correlated with TRAIL and CCL20 expression. Together, these findings identify a key role of MID1 in allergic airway inflammation and links innate immune pathway activation to the development and exacerbation of asthma.