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Lipopolysaccharide binding protein binds to triacylated and diacylated lipopeptides and mediates innate immune responses.

LPS binding protein (LBP) is an acute-phase protein synthesized predominantly in the liver of the mammalian host. It was first described to bind LPS of Gram-negative bacteria and transfer it via a CD14-enhanced mechanism to a receptor complex including TLR-4 and MD-2, initiating a signal transduction cascade leading to the release of proinflammatory cytokines. In recent studies, we found that LBP also mediates cytokine induction caused by compounds derived from Gram-positive bacteria, including lipoteichoic acid and peptidoglycan fragments. Lipoproteins and lipopeptides have repeatedly been shown to act as potent cytokine inducers, interacting with TLR-2, in synergy with TLR-1 or -6. In this study, we show that these compounds also interact with LBP and CD14. We used triacylated lipopeptides, corresponding to lipoproteins of Borrelia burgdorferi, mycobacteria, and Escherichia coli, as well as diacylated lipopeptides, corresponding to, e.g., 2-kDa macrophage activating lipopeptide of Mycoplasma spp. Activation of Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with TLR-2 by both lipopeptides was enhanced by cotransfection of CD14. Responsiveness of human mononuclear cells to these compounds was greatly enhanced in the presence of human LBP. Binding of lipopeptides to LBP as well as competitive inhibition of this interaction by LPS was demonstrated in a microplate assay. Furthermore, we were able to show that LBP transfers lipopeptides to CD14 on human monocytes using FACS analysis. These results support that LBP is a pattern recognition receptor transferring a variety of bacterial ligands including the two major types of lipopeptides to CD14 present in different receptor complexes.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗

Innate immunity in the human female reproductive tract: antiviral response of uterine epithelial cells to the TLR3 agonist poly(I:C).

The objective of this study was to examine the expression of TLR by human primary uterine epithelial cells (UEC) and to determine whether exposure to the TLR agonist poly(I:C) would induce an antiviral response. The secretion of several cytokines and chemokines was examined as well as the mRNA expression of human beta-defensin-1 and -2 (HBD1 and HBD2), IFN-beta, and the IFN-beta-stimulated genes myxovirus resistance gene 1 and 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase. The expression of TLR1-9 by UEC was demonstrated by RT-PCR, with only TLR10 not expressed. Stimulation of UEC with the TLR3 agonist poly(I:C) induced the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, GM-CSF, and G-CSF, as well as the chemokines CXCL8/IL-8, CCL2/MCP-1, and CCL4/MIP-1beta. In addition, poly(I:C) exposure induced the mRNA expression of HBD1 and HBD2 by 6- and 4-fold, respectively. Furthermore, upon exposure to poly(I:C) UEC initiated a potent antiviral response resulting in the induction of IFN-beta mRNA expression 70-fold and myxovirus resistance gene 1 and 2',5' oligoadenylate synthetase mRNA expression (107- and 96-fold), respectively. These results suggest that epithelial cells that line the uterine cavity are sensitive to viral infection and/or exposure to viral dsRNA released from killed epithelial cells. Not only do UEC release proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines that mediate the initiation of an inflammatory response and recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection, but they also express beta-defensins, IFN-beta, and IFN-beta-stimulated genes that can have a direct inhibiting effect on viral replication.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Activation of innate immunity, inflammation, and potentiation of DNA vaccination through mammalian expression of the TLR5 agonist flagellin.

Improving DNA vaccination remains a fundamental goal in vaccine research. Theoretically, this could be achieved by molecules encoded by DNA capable of activating TLRs to mimic inflammatory responses generated by infection. Therefore, we constructed an expression vector that allows mammalian cells to express the TLR5 agonist flagellin (FliC) at the cell surface. In vitro, cell lines expressing FliC stimulated production of proinflammatory cytokines and the up-regulation of costimulatory molecules on monocytes. Mice given the FliC expression vector intradermally exhibited site-specific inflammation and, in combination with vectors expressing Ags, developed dramatic increases in Ag-specific IgG as well as IgA. Surprisingly, mice also developed strong Ag-specific MHC class I-restricted cellular immunity. To determine whether vaccination using FliC vectors could elicit protective immunity to an infectious agent, mice were given dermal injections of FliC expression vector together with a vector encoding the influenza A virus nucleoprotein. This vaccination strategy elicited protective immunity to lethal influenza A virus infection. These results demonstrate that expression of DNA-encoded TLR agonists by mammalian cells greatly enhance and broaden immune responses, imposing new possibilities on DNA vaccination to infectious agents and cancer.

Animals↗

Roles of caspase-8 and caspase-10 in innate immune responses to double-stranded RNA.

Upon viral infection, host cells trigger antiviral immune responses by inducing type I IFN and inflammatory cytokines. dsRNA generated during viral replication is recognized by the cytoplasmic RNA helicases retinoic acid-inducible gene I and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, which interact with an adaptor, IFN-beta promoter stimulator-1, to activate the transcription factors NF-kappaB and IFN regulatory factor 3. In this article we demonstrate that caspase-8 and caspase-10 are involved in these pathways. Both caspases were cleaved during dsRNA stimulation, and overexpression of a cleaved form of these caspases activated NF-kappaB. Knockdown of caspase-10 or caspase-8 in a human cell line resulted in the reduction of inflammatory cytokine production. Cells derived from caspase-8-deficient mice also showed reduced expression of inflammatory cytokines as well as NF-kappaB activation. Furthermore, the Fas-associated death domain protein interacted with these two caspases and IFN-beta promoter stimulator 1. These results indicate that caspase-8 and caspase-10 are essential components that mediate NF-kappaB-dependent inflammatory responses in antiviral signaling.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Sertoli cells initiate testicular innate immune responses through TLR activation.

TLRs play a crucial role in early host defense against invading pathogens. In the seminiferous epithelium, Sertoli cells are the somatic nurse cells that mechanically segregate germ cell autoantigens by means of the blood-tubular barrier and create a microenvironment that protects germ cells from both interstitial and ascending invading pathogens. The objective of this study was to examine TLR expression and their functional responses to specific agonists in mouse Sertoli cells. We measured the expression of TLR2, TLR4, TLR5, and TLR6 mRNAs and confirmed by FACS analysis the presence of proteins TLR2 and TLR5 on which we focused our study. Stimulation of Sertoli cells with macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2, agonist of TLR2/TLR6, and with flagellin, agonist of TLR5, induces augmented secretion of the chemokine MCP-1. To assess the functional significance of MCP-1 production following TLR stimulation, conditioned medium from either macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 or flagellin-treated Sertoli cells was tested for in vitro chemotaxis assay, and a significant increase of macrophage migration was observed in comparison with unstimulated conditioned medium. Moreover, we studied the role of NF-kappaB and of MAPKs in regulating TLR-mediated MCP-1 secretion by using inhibitors specific for each transduction pathway and we demonstrated a pivotal role of the IkappaB/NF-kappaB and JNK systems. In addition, TLR2/TLR6 and TLR5 stimulation induces increased ICAM-1 expression in Sertoli cells. Collectively, this study demonstrates the novel ability of Sertoli cells to potentially respond to a wide variety of bacteria through TLR stimulation.

Animals↗

Life after death: are autophagy genes involved in cell death and survival during plant innate immune responses?

It has not escaped the attention of the plant disease resistance community that the vacuole is rapidly emerging as a central player in the execution of cell death. On the one hand the targeted destruction of the vacuole-from the inside out-by vacuolar processing enzymes (VPE) is required to induce PCD in pathogen-infected cells. On the other hand, an intact vacuole is vital for a functional autophagic response to ensure survival of uninfected cells. At face value, the two responses seem to represent distinct resistance mechanisms that operate at divergent branch points and their use of the vacuole merely coincidental. However, closer examination has led us to propose an interesting hypothesis that accounts for these two opposing roles of the vacuole in both VPE-mediated PCD and autophagydependent cell survival. During initial infection, we propose a mechanism similar to the CPY transport pathway in yeast wherein a select set of genes, including several which encode a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex that is needed for autophagy, are needed for VPE transport, vacuolar processing and initiation of PCD. Later during infection, autophagyspecific genes are needed for autophagosome formation, sequestration of VPE preproteins and VPE degradation.

Autophagy↗

Lipid-DNA complexes induce potent activation of innate immune responses and antitumor activity when administered intravenously.

Cationic lipid-DNA complexes (CLDC) are reported to be safe and effective for systemic gene delivery, particularly to the lungs. However, we observed that i.v. injection of CLDC induced immunologic effects not previously reported. We found that even very low doses of CLDC administered i.v. induced marked systemic immune activation. This response included strong up-regulation of CD69 expression on multiple cell types and systemic release of high levels of Th1 cytokines, from both lung and spleen mononuclear cells. CLDC were much more potent immune activators on a per weight basis than either LPS or poly(I:C). The remarkable potency of CLDC appeared to result from enhancement of the immune stimulatory properties of DNA, since cationic lipids alone were without immune stimulatory activity. Systemic treatment with CLDC controlled tumor growth and significantly prolonged survival times in mice with metastatic pulmonary tumors. NK cells accumulated to high levels in the lungs of CLDC-treated mice, were functionally activated, and released high levels of IFN-gamma. The antitumor activity induced by CLDC injection was dependent on both NK cells and IFN-gamma. Thus, DNA complexed to cationic liposomes becomes highly immunostimulatory and capable of inducing strong antitumor activity when administered systemically.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Interferon activation and innate immunity.

The interferons are a family of cytokine mediators critically involved in alerting the cellular immune system to viral infection of host cells. Interferons not only exhibit important antiviral effects but also exert a key influence on the quality of the cellular immune responses and amplify antigen presentation to specific T cells. Type I interferon (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) is secreted by virus-infected cells while type II, immune or gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) is mainly secreted by T cells, natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages. Interferons interact with specific cellular receptors, which promote production of second messengers ultimately leading to expression of antiviral and immune modulatory genes. The IFN genes themselves are regulated by transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms including modulation by a family of interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) synthesised by host cells. IFNs activate macrophages, induce B cells to switch immunoglobulin type, alter T helper response, inhibit cell growth, promote apoptosis and induce an antiviral state in uninfected cells. The therapeutic potential of the IFNs is currently the focus of intense attention in a number of virus-associated diseases, tumours and autoimmune disorders.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase↗

Role of innate immune cells in protection against Toxoplasma gondii at inflamed site.

The intraperitoneal infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) caused accumulation of gamma delta T, NK, NK1.1+T-like (NKT) cells at inflamed sites. To clarify the roles of these cells in protection against T. gondii at the inflamed sites, BALB/c mice were depleted of gamma delta T, NK, NK and NKT cells by treatment with antibody against TCR-gamma delta, asialoGM1 or Interleukin-2 receptor beta-chain (IL-2 R beta), respectively, prior to infection. Mice treated with anti-TCR-gamma delta monoclonal antibody (mAb) became more susceptible to infection, whereas mice treated with anti-IL-2R beta mAb acquired resistance. Treatment with anti-asialoGM1 Ab showed no effect. We previously reported that heat shock protein 65 (HSP65) in macrophages induced by gamma delta T cells plays an essential role in protective immunity against T. gondii infection, by preventing apoptotic death of infected macrophages. In the present study, we showed that treatment with anti-IL-2R beta mAb, but not with anti-asialoGM1 Ab, enhanced the HSP65 induction in macrophages, and inhibited Interleukin-4 (IL-4) expression in nonadherent peritoneal exudate cells. Furthermore, neutralization of endogenous IL-4 by anti-IL-4 mAb enhanced the HSP65 induction in macrophages. These findings suggest that NKT cells, but not NK cells, negatively regulate the protective immunity against T. gondii infection possibly by producing IL-4 and suppressing HSP65 induction.

Animals↗

Senescence in innate immune responses: reduced neutrophil phagocytic capacity and CD16 expression in elderly humans.

Elderly humans are more susceptible to bacterial infections because of declining immune status. We have investigated the effect of aging on neutrophil bactericidal responses, comparing neutrophil function in healthy, young (23-35 years) and elderly (>65 years) volunteers. Superoxide generation in response to fMLP was slightly increased in neutrophils from elderly donors, and serum from the elderly was able to opsonize E. coli efficiently. In contrast, phagocytic index was significantly lower in neutrophils from the elderly, compared with young donors (P<0.005). CD11a and CD11b expression was not affected by age, but CD16 was significantly reduced in neutrophils from elderly donors (P<0.0001). CD16 expression and phagocytic index were measured in the same neutrophils using FITC-labeled E. coli, PE-conjugated anti-CD16 antibody, and CD16 expression correlated with phagocytic index (r=0.83; P<0.05). In elderly patients with bacterial infection, CD16 expression remained low. We propose that reduced neutrophil CD16 expression and phagocytosis contribute to human immunesenescence.

Adult↗

Molecular basis for innate immune recognition of microbial components.

Recognition of bacterial envelope constituents is one mechanism used by mammalian cells to initiate responses leading to bacterial killing, or, unfortunately, responses that also cause fatal septic shock. Many cell surface receptors by which these microbial components are recognized have been identified and characterized over the past a few years. In addition to CD14, which has been shown to be involved in the recognition of many microbial components, Toll-like receptors and MD-2 have been identified as factors playing a role in the receptor complexes of these components. Here we review the recent findings regarding the molecular basis for the recognition of microbial components.

Animals↗

Inducible expression of an antimicrobial peptide of the innate immunity in polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Epithelia- and leukocyte-associated antimicrobial peptides provide immediate protection against microbial infections by rapidly inactivating potential pathogens. Bac5 is a member of the cathelicidin family of antimicrobial peptides and is stored in the cytoplasmic granules of bovine neutrophils. We investigated the expression of this gene in airway and intestine, and although the gene was not found to be locally expressed in these tissues, a strong Bac5 induction signal was detected by in situ hybridization in neutrophils infiltrating infected lung, consistent with expression of this gene in activated neutrophils. The Bac5 gene was also induced in bovine peripheral neutrophils stimulated with Escherichia coli or purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) but not in other blood cells and in resting neutrophils. The levels of Bac5 mRNA increased at 12-24 h post-stimulation, and a dose-dependent increase in Bac5 expression was determined in the presence of increasing amounts of LPS. A metabolically labeled product with a molecular weight compatible with that of proBac5 was immunoprecipitated from cell-free media of stimulated neutrophils, suggesting that the newly synthesized polypeptide is released extracellularly. Collectively, these results provide the first evidence that fully differentiated neutrophils are capable of de novo synthesis and secretion of a granule-associated antimicrobial peptide.

5' Flanking Region↗