FBXO11 amplifies type I interferon signaling to exert antiviral effects by facilitating the assemble of TRAF3–TBK1–IRF3 complex

Abstract As the key component of host innate antiviral immunity, type I interferons (IFN‐Is) exert multiple antiviral effects by inducing hundreds of IFN‐stimulated genes. However, the precise mechanism involved in host sensing of IFN‐I signaling priming is particularly complex and remains incompletely resolved. This research identified F‐box protein 11 (FBXO11), a component of the E3‐ubiquitin ligase SKP/Cullin/F‐box complex, acted as an important regulator of IFN‐I signaling priming and antiviral process against several RNA/DNA viruses. FBXO11 functioned as an essential enhancer of IFN‐I signaling by promoting the phosphorylation of TBK1 and IRF3. Mechanistically, FBXO11 facilitated the assembly of TRAF3–TBK1–IRF3 complex by mediating the K63 ubiquitination of TRAF3 in a NEDD8‐dependent manner to amplify the activation of IFN‐I signaling. Consistently, the NEDD8‐activating enzyme inhibitor MLN4921 could act as a blocker for FBXO11–TRAF3–IFN‐I axis of signaling. More significantly, examination of clinical samples of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and public transcriptome database of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2‐, HBV‐, and hepatitis C virus‐infected human samples revealed that FBXO11 expression was positively correlated with the stage of disease course. Taken together, these findings suggest that FBXO11 is an amplifier of antiviral immune responses and might serve as a potential therapeutic target for a number of different viral diseases.