The GOLD domain-containing protein TMED7 inhibits TLR4 signalling from the endosome upon LPS stimulation

Toll-like receptor 4 is an innate immune receptor responsible for the recognition of the Gram-negative cell wall component lipopolysaccharide. Here we show that transmembrane emp24 domain-containing protein 7 (TMED7) inhibits MyD88-independent toll-like receptor 4 signalling. TMED7 overexpression inhibits the ability of TRAM, an adaptor utilized by toll-like receptor 4, or lipopolysaccharide to activate the interferon regulatory factor 3-signalling pathway, whereas TMED7 knockdown enhances production of the cytokine, RANTES, following lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation, TMED7 co-localizes with TRAM and toll-like receptor 4 in late endosomes where it encounters the negative regulator of TRAM, TAG. The TMED7 sequence is found in TAG because of a read-through from the tmed7 gene into the ticam2 gene. TMED7 is essential for TAG-mediated disruption of the TRAM/TRIF complex and the degradation of toll-like receptor 4. A TMED homologue, logjam, has a negative role in the Toll and IMD pathways in Drosophila melanogaster ; therefore, TMEDs may have a conserved role in the regulation of innate immunity. TLRs have a role in innate immunity and TLR4 recognizes lipopolysaccharide on the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria. Now, Doyle and colleagues show that a transmembrane protein TMED7, similar to a Drosophila homologue, can negatively control TLR4 signalling, suggesting a conserved role in innate immunity.