A Negative Regulatory Feedback Loop within the JAK–STAT Pathway Mediated by the Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase DUSP14 in Shrimp

Abstract The JAK–STAT pathway is a central communication node for various biological processes. Its activation is characterized by phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of the transcription factor STAT. The regulatory balance of JAK–STAT signaling is important for maintenance of immune homeostasis. Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) induce dephosphorylation of tyrosine residues in intracellular proteins and generally function as negative regulators in cell signaling. However, the roles of PTPs in JAK–STAT signaling, especially in invertebrates, remain largely unknown. Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei is currently an important model for studying invertebrate immunity. This study identified a novel member of the dual-specificity phosphatase (DUSP) subclass of the PTP superfamily in P. vannamei, named PvDUSP14. By interacting with and dephosphorylating STAT, PvDUSP14 inhibits the excessive activation of the JAK–STAT pathway, and silencing of PvDUSP14 significantly enhances humoral and cellular immunity in shrimp. The promoter of PvDUSP14 contains a STAT-binding motif and can be directly activated by STAT, suggesting that PvDUSP14 is a regulatory target gene of the JAK–STAT pathway and mediates a negative feedback regulatory loop. This feedback loop plays a role in maintaining homeostasis of JAK–STAT signaling and is involved in antibacterial and antiviral immune responses in shrimp. Therefore, the current study revealed a novel inhibitory mechanism of JAK–STAT signaling, which is of significance for studying the regulatory mechanisms of immune homeostasis in invertebrates.