The TRIM14-USP14-BRCC3 complex epigenetically regulates inflammation through inhibiting OPTN-mediated autophagic degradation of KDM4D.

Macroautophagy/autophagy is a conserved eukaryotic process to mediate the degradation of cell organelles and protein aggregates, which participates in a variety of cellular responses, including immune signal transduction. KDM4D functions as an important histone demethylase to regulate gene transcription by inhibiting histone H3K9 trimethylation. Whether autophagy epigenetically regulates the immune response via modulating the stability and activity of KDM4D remains largely unclear. Recently, we identified TRIM14 (tripartite motif-containing 14) as an epigenetic regulator, which recruits USP14 and BRCC3 to form a regulatory complex, and promotes an inflammation response through inhibiting OPTN-mediated autophagic degradation of KDM4D.