Acts as a signaling pathway regulator involved in innate immune system response ( , ). In response to interleukin 2/IL2 and interferon IFN-gamma/IFNG, interacts with signal transducer and activator of transcription/STAT which activate the transcription of downstream genes involved in a multitude of signals for development and homeostasis (, ). Enhances the recruitment of CBP/p300 coactivators to STAT1 and STAT5, resulting in increased STAT1- and STAT5-dependent transcription . In response to interferon IFN-alpha, associates in a complex with signaling pathway regulator IFI35 to regulate immune response; the complex formation prevents proteasome-mediated degradation of IFI35 (, ). In complex with IFI35, inhibits virus-triggered type I IFN-beta production when ubiquitinated by ubiquitin-protein ligase TRIM21 . In complex with IFI35, negatively regulates nuclear factor NF-kappa-B signaling by inhibiting the nuclear translocation, activation and transcription of NF-kappa-B subunit p65/RELA, resulting in the inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, migration and re-endothelialization of injured arteries . Negatively regulates virus-triggered type I interferon/IFN production by inducing proteosome-dependent degradation of IRF7, a transcriptional regulator of type I IFN, thereby interfering with cellular antiviral responses (By similarity). Beside its role as an intracellular signaling pathway regulator, also functions extracellularly as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) to promote inflammation, when actively released by macrophage to the extracellular space during cell injury or pathogen invasion . Macrophage-secreted NMI activates NF-kappa-B signaling in adjacent macrophages through Toll-like receptor 4/TLR4 binding and activation, thereby inducing NF-kappa-B translocation from the cytoplasm into the nucleus which promotes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines .
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Nucleus, Secreted
Cytoplasmic NMI localizes in punctate granular structures (, ). Nuclear localization increased following IFN-alpha treatment (, ). Extracelullar following secretion by macrophage .
Expressed in adult spleen, liver, and kidney . Expressed in fetal thymus, liver, placenta, spleen, lung, and kidney but not brain . Expressed in macrophages .