TIR-containing adapter molecule (TICAM)-2, a bridging adapter recruiting to toll-like receptor 4 TICAM-1 that induces interferon-beta

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an agonist for Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and expresses many genes including NF-kappaB- and interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3/IFN-inducible genes in macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). TICAM-1/TRIF was identified as an adapter that facilitates activation of IRF-3 followed by expression of interferon (IFN)-beta genes in TLR3 signaling, but TICAM-1 does not directly bind TLR4. Although MyD88 and Mal/TIRAP adapters functions downstream of TLR4, DC maturation and IFN-beta induction are independent of MyD88 and Mal/TIRAP. In this investigation, we report the identification of a novel adapter, TICAM-2, that physically bridges TLR4 and TICAM-1 and functionally transmits LPS-TLR4 signaling to TICAM-1, which in turn activates IRF-3. In its structural features, TICAM-2 resembled Mal/TIRAP, an adapter that links TLR2/4 and MyD88. However, TICAM-2 per se exhibited minimal ability to activate NF-kappaB and the IFN-beta promoter. Hence, in LPS signaling TLR4 recruits two types of adapters, TIRAP and TICAM-2, to its cytoplasmic domain that are indirectly connected to two effective adapters, MyD88 and TICAM-1, respectively. We conclude that for LPS-TLR4-mediated activation of IFN-beta, the adapter complex of TICAM-2 and TICAM-1 plays a crucial role. This results in the construction of MyD88-dependent and -independent pathways separately downstream of the two distinct adapters.     

TRAM is involved in IL-18 signaling and functions as a sorting adaptor for MyD88

MyD88, a Toll/interleukin-1 receptor homology (TIR) domain-containing adaptor protein, mediates signals from the Toll-like receptors (TLR) or IL-1/IL-18 receptors to downstream kinases. In MyD88-dependent TLR4 signaling, the function of MyD88 is enhanced by another TIR domain-containing adaptor, Mal/TIRAP, which brings MyD88 to the plasma membrane and promotes its interaction with the cytosolic region of TLR4. Hence, Mal is recognized as the "sorting adaptor" for MyD88. In this study, a direct interaction between MyD88-TIR and another membrane-sorting adaptor, TRAM/TICAM-2, was demonstrated in vitro. Cell-based assays including RNA interference experiments and TRAM deficient mice revealed that the interplay between MyD88 and TRAM in cells is important in mediating IL-18 signal transduction. Live cell imaging further demonstrated the co-localized accumulation of MyD88 and TRAM in the membrane regions in HEK293 cells. These findings suggest that TRAM serves as the sorting adaptor for MyD88 in IL-18 signaling, which then facilitates the signal transduction. The binding sites for TRAM are located in the TIR domain of MyD88 and actually overlap with the binding sites for Mal. MyD88, the multifunctional signaling adaptor that works together with most of the TLR members and with the IL-1/IL-18 receptors, can interact with two distinct sorting adaptors, TRAM and Mal, in a conserved manner in a distinct context.     

CD14, TLR4 and TRAM Show Different Trafficking Dynamics During LPS Stimulation

Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) is responsible for the immediate response to Gram‐negative bacteria and signals via two main pathways by recruitment of distinct pairs of adaptor proteins. Mal‐MyD88 [Mal (MyD88‐adaptor‐like) ‐ MYD88 (Myeloid differentiation primary response gene (88))] is recruited to the plasma membrane to initiate the signaling cascade leading to production of pro‐inflammatory cytokines while TRAM‐TRIF [TRAM (TRIF‐related adaptor molecule)‐TRIF (TIR‐domain‐containing adapter‐inducing interferon‐β)] is recruited to early endosomes to initiate the subsequent production of type I interferons. We have investigated the dynamics of TLR4 and TRAM during lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. We found that LPS induced a CD14‐dependent immobile fraction of TLR4 in the plasma membrane. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF) revealed that LPS stimulation induced clustering of TLR4 into small punctate structures in the plasma membrane containing CD14/LPS and clathrin, both in HEK293 cells and the macrophage model cell line U373‐CD14. These results suggest that laterally immobilized TLR4 receptor complexes are being formed and prepared for endocytosis. RAB11A was found to be involved in localizing TRAM to the endocytic recycling compartment (ERC) and to early sorting endosomes. Moreover, CD14/LPS but not TRAM was immobilized on RAB11A‐positive endosomes, which indicates that TRAM and CD14/LPS can independently be recruited to endosomes.      

Cutting edge: a novel Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adapter that preferentially activates the IFN-beta promoter in the Toll-like receptor signaling

MyD88 is a Toll/IL-1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing adapter common to signaling pathways via Toll-like receptor (TLR) family. However, accumulating evidence demonstrates the existence of a MyD88-independent pathway, which may explain unique biological responses of individual TLRs, particularly TLR3 and TLR4. TIR domain-containing adapter protein (TIRAP)/MyD88 adapter-like, a second adapter harboring the TIR domain, is essential for MyD88-dependent TLR2 and TLR4 signaling pathways, but not for MyD88-independent pathways. Here, we identified a novel TIR domain-containing molecule, named TIR domain-containing adapter inducing IFN-beta (TRIF). As is the case in MyD88 and TIRAP, overexpression of TRIF activated the NF-kappaB-dependent promoter. A dominant-negative form of TRIF inhibited TLR2-, TLR4-, and TLR7-dependent NF-kappaB activation. Furthermore, TRIF, but neither MyD88 nor TIRAP, activated the IFN-beta promoter. Dominant-negative TRIF inhibited TLR3-dependent activation of both the NF-kappaB-dependent and IFN-beta promoters. TRIF associated with TLR3 and IFN regulatory factor 3. These findings suggest that TRIF is involved in the TLR signaling, particularly in the MyD88-independent pathway.     

TLRs: differential adapter utilization by toll-like receptors mediates TLR-specific patterns of gene expression

In response to microbial or environmental "danger" signals, represented by structural motifs not normally expressed by cells, Toll-like receptors mediate intracellular signaling that leads to inflammatory gene expression. In response to agonists, TLR aggregation enables the recruitment and/or activation of TLR-specific adapter molecules. To date, four adapter proteins have been identified: MyD88, TIRAP/Mal, TRIF/TICAM-1, and TIRP/TRAM/TICAM-2. The interaction of the different TLRs with distinct combinations of adapter molecules creates a platform to which additional kinases, transacting factors, and possibly other molecules are recruited, events that lead, ultimately, to gene expression. Given the rapidity with which such interactions have been described, we have attempted to summarize our current understanding of the adapters that are so essential for TLR signaling and provide a working model for future studies.     

TICAM-1 and TICAM-2: toll-like receptor adapters that participate in induction of type 1 interferons

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 and 4 mediate the expression of many genes, including NF-kappaB- and interferon-regulatory factor (IRF)-3/interferon (IFN)-inducible genes, in macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) in response to their ligand stimuli, polyI:C and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Toll-IL-1 receptor homology domain (TIR)-containing adapter molecule 1 (TICAM-1) facilitates expression of IFN-inducible genes via TLR3. Although MyD88 and Mal/TIRAP adapters function downstream of TLR4, they barely induce IFN-beta. In addition, DC maturation as well as IFN-beta induction are largely independent of MyD88 and Mal/TIRAP. TICAM-1 is the functional adapter for both TLR3 and TLR4 that induces type 1 IFN and MyD88-independent DC maturation. In LPS-mediated TLR4 activation, a complex of TICAM-1 and an additional TLR4-binding adapter serves as the adapter. We named this TLR4-TICAM-1-bridging adapter TICAM-2. Our results reveal the details of MyD88-independent pathways which separately recruit the distinct adapters downstream of TLR3 and TLR4 and variations of the TLR output are in part regulated by the two additional adapters in DCs.     

TRIF Mediates Toll-like Receptor 5-induced Signaling in Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) associate with adaptor molecules (MyD88, Mal/TIRAP, TRAM, and TRIF) to mediate signaling of host-microbial interaction. For instance, TLR4 utilizes the combination of both Mal/TIRAP-MyD88 (MyD88-dependent pathway) and TRAM-TRIF (MyD88-independent pathway). However, TLR5, the specific receptor for flagellin, is known to utilize only MyD88 to elicit inflammatory responses, and an involvement of other adaptor molecules has not been suggested in TLR5-dependent signaling. Here, we found that TRIF is involved in mediating TLR5-induced nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), specifically JNK1/2 and ERK1/2, activation in intestinal epithelial cells. TLR5 activation by flagellin permits the physical interaction between TLR5 and TRIF in human colonic epithelial cells (NCM460), whereas TLR5 does not interact with TRAM upon flagellin stimulation. Both primary intestinal epithelial cells from TRIF-KO mice and TRIF-silenced NCM460 cells significantly reduced flagellin-induced NFκB (p105 and p65), JNK1/2, and ERK1/2 activation compared with control cells. However, p38 activation by flagellin was preserved in these TRIF-deficient cells. TRIF-KO intestinal epithelial cells exhibited substantially reduced inflammatory cytokine (keratinocyte-derived cytokine, macrophage inflammatory protein 3α, and IL-6) expression upon flagellin, whereas control cells from TRIF-WT mice showed robust cytokine expression by flagellin. Compare with TRIF-WT mice, TRIF-KO mice were resistant to in vivo intestinal inflammatory responses: flagellin-mediated exacerbation of colonic inflammation and dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis. We conclude that in addition to MyD88, TRIF mediates TLR5-dependent responses and, thereby regulates inflammatory responses elicited by flagellin/TLR5 engagement. Our findings suggest an important role of TRIF in regulating host-microbial communication via TLR5 in the gut epithelium.     

High mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1)-partner molecule complexes enhance cytokine production by signaling through the partner molecule receptor

The nuclear protein high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) promotes inflammation upon extracellular release. HMGB1 induces proinflammatory cytokine production in macrophages via Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 signaling in a redox-dependent fashion. Independent of its redox state and endogenous cytokine-inducing ability, HMGB1 can form highly immunostimulatory complexes by interaction with certain proinflammatory mediators. Such complexes have the ability to enhance the induced immune response up to 100-fold, compared with induction by the ligand alone. To clarify the mechanisms for these strong synergistic effects, we studied receptor requirements. Interleukin (IL)-6 production was assessed in supernatants from cultured peritoneal macrophages from mice each deficient in one of the HMGB1 receptors (receptor for advanced glycation end products [RAGE], TLR2 or TLR4) or from wild-type controls. The cultures were stimulated with the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccaride (LPS), the TLR2 ligand Pam₃CysSerLys₄ (Pam₃CSK₄), noninflammatory HMGB1 or each TLR ligand in complex with noninflammatory HMGB1. The activity of the HMGB1-TLR ligand complexes relied on engagement of the same receptor as for the noncomplexed TLR ligand, since HMGB1-LPS complexes used TLR4 and HMGB1-Pam₃CSK₄ complexes used TLR2. Deletion of any of the intracellular adaptor molecules used by TLR2 (myeloid differentiation factor-88 [MyD88], TIR domain–containing adaptor protein [TIRAP]) or TLR4 (MyD88, TIRAP, TIR domain–containing adaptor-inducing interferon-β [TRIF], TRIF-related adaptor molecule [TRAM]) had similar effects on HMGB1 complex activation compared with noncomplexed LPS or Pam₃CSK₄. This result implies that the enhancing effects of HMGB1-partner molecule complexes are not regulated by the induction of additional signaling cascades. Elucidating HMGB1 receptor usage in processes where HMGB1 acts alone or in complex with other molecules is essential for the understanding of basic HMGB1 biology and for designing HMGB1-targeted therapies.     

Absence of MyD88 results in enhanced TLR3-dependent phosphorylation of IRF3 and increased IFN-β and RANTES production

Toll-like receptors are a group of pattern-recognition receptors that play a crucial role in "danger" recognition and induction of the innate immune response against bacterial and viral infections. TLR3 has emerged as a key sensor of viral dsRNA, resulting in the induction of the anti-viral molecule, IFN-β. Thus, a clearer understanding of the biological processes that modulate TLR3 signaling is essential. Previous studies have shown that the TLR adaptor, Mal/TIRAP, an activator of TLR4, inhibits TLR3-mediated IFN-β induction through a mechanism involving IRF7. In this study, we sought to investigate whether the TLR adaptor, MyD88, an activator of all TLRs except TLR3, has the ability to modulate TLR3 signaling. Although MyD88 does not significantly affect TLR3 ligand-induced TNF-α induction, MyD88 negatively regulates TLR3-, but not TLR4-, mediated IFN-β and RANTES production; this process is mechanistically distinct from that employed by Mal/TIRAP. We show that MyD88 inhibits IKKε-, but not TBK1-, induced activation of IRF3. In doing so, MyD88 curtails TLR3 ligand-induced IFN-β induction. The present study shows that while MyD88 activates all TLRs except TLR3, MyD88 also functions as a negative regulator of TLR3. Thus, MyD88 is essential in restricting TLR3 signaling, thereby protecting the host from unwanted immunopathologies associated with the excessive production of IFN-β. Our study offers a new role for MyD88 in restricting TLR3 signaling through a hitherto unknown mechanism whereby MyD88 specifically impairs IKKε-mediated induction of IRF3 and concomitant IFN-β and RANTES production.     

Selective use of TRAM in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) induced NF-kappaB activation and cytokine production in primary human cells: TRAM is an adaptor for LPS and LTA signaling

TLR signal via Toll-IL-1R (TIR) homology domain-containing adaptor proteins. One of these adaptors, Toll-IL-1R domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-beta-related adaptor molecule (TRAM), has been shown to be essential for TLR4 signaling in TRAM(-/-) mice and cell lines. Previously, we showed that MyD88 or Mal dominant-negative constructs did not inhibit LPS induction of cytokines in primary human M-CSF-derived macrophages. A possible explanation was redundancy of the adaptors during LPS signaling. TRAM is a suitable candidate to compensate for these adaptors. To investigate a potential role for TRAM in LPS signaling in human M-CSF-derived macrophages, we engineered an adenoviral construct expressing dominant-negative TRAM-C117H (AdTRAMdn). Synovial fibroblasts (SF) and human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used as a nonmyeloid comparison. AdTRAMdn inhibited LPS-induced signaling in SFs and HUVECs, reducing NF-kappaB activation and cytokine production, but did not inhibit LPS signaling in M-CSF-derived human macrophages. Further investigation of other TLR ligands showed that AdTRAMdn was also able to inhibit signaling initiated by lipoteichoic acid, a TLR2 ligand, in SFs and HUVECs and lipoteichoic acid and macrophage-activating lipopeptide 2 signaling was also inhibited in TRAM(-/-) murine embryonic fibroblasts. We conclude that TRAM is an adaptor protein for both TLR4 and TLR2/6 signaling in SFs, HUVECs, and murine embryonic fibroblasts, but cannot demonstrate a role in human macrophages.     

Tumor immunotherapy using bone marrow-derived dendritic cells overexpressing Toll-like receptor adaptors

Myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) play an important role in the initiation of immune responses to cancer and infectious diseases. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) expressed on mDCs recognize microbial products to elicit signals for mDC maturation, including cytokine production, antigen-presentation and induction of effector cells. TLR agonists work as adjuvants to modulate the function of mDCs. In TLR signaling, MyD88 and TRIF/TICAM-1 are major TLR adaptor molecules, which when overexpressed are able to transduce downstream signals without TLR stimuli. We successfully introduced the adaptors into mouse bone marrow-derived mDCs using lentiviral vectors. Introduction of MyD88 into mDCs in vitro led to the production of IL-6 and IL-12p40 while introduction of TICAM-1 stimulated interferon (IFN)-alpha production. Expression of TICAM-1, but not MyD88, in mDCs slightly induced the co-stimulatory molecule CD86, while significant upregulation of CD86 was observed in response to other TLR stimuli. Both MyD88 and TICAM-1 augmented allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). Ex vivo mouse spleen cells pre-exposed to tumor antigen exhibited antitumor cytotoxicity when incubated with MyD88- or TICAM-1-expressing mDCs. Using mDC adoptive transfer and a syngeneic mouse tumor implant model, we established an antitumor immunotherapy whereby tumor growth is retarded by adaptor-manipulated mDCs.     

Apoptosis induced by the toll-like receptor adaptor TRIF is dependent on its receptor interacting protein homotypic interaction motif

TLRs detect specific molecular features of microorganisms and subsequently engage distinct signaling networks through the differential use of Toll/IL-1R (TIR)-domain-containing adapter proteins. In this study, we investigated the control of apoptosis by the TIR domain-containing adapter proteins MyD88, TIR-domain containing adapter protein (TIRAP), TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing IFN-beta (TRIF), TRIF-related adapter molecule (TRAM), and sterile alpha motifs and beta-catenin/armadillo repeats (SARM). Upon overexpression, TRIF was the sole TIR-adapter to potently engage mammalian cell death signaling pathways. TRIF-induced cell death required caspase activity initiated by the Fas/Apo-1-associated DD protein-caspase-8 axis and was unaffected by inhibitors of the intrinsic apoptotic machinery. The proapoptotic potential of TRIF mapped to the C-terminal region that was found to harbor a receptor interacting protein (RIP) homotypic interaction motif (RHIM). TRIF physically interacted with the RHIM-containing proteins RIP1 and RIP3, and deletion and mutational analyses revealed that the RHIM in TRIF was essential for TRIF-induced apoptosis and contributed to TRIF-induced NF-kappa B activation. The domain that was required for induction of apoptosis could activate NF-kappa B but not IFN regulatory factor-3, yet the activation of NF-kappa B could be blocked by superrepressor I kappa B alpha without blocking apoptosis. Thus, the ability of TRIF to induce apoptosis was not dependent on its ability to activate either IFN regulatory factor-3 or NF-kappa B but was dependent on the presence of an intact RHIM. TRIF serves as an adaptor for both TLR3 and TLR4, receptors that are activated by dsRNA and LPS, respectively. These molecular motifs are encountered during viral and bacterial infection, and the apoptosis that occurs when TRIF is engaged represents an important host defense to limit the spread of infection.     

Toll-like receptor adaptor molecules enhance DNA-raised adaptive immune responses against influenza and tumors through activation of innate immunity

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize microbial components and trigger the signaling cascade that activates the innate and adaptive immunity. TLR adaptor molecules play a central role in this cascade; thus, we hypothesized that overexpression of TLR adaptor molecules could mimic infection without any microbial components. Dual-promoter plasmids that carry an antigen and a TLR adaptor molecule such as the Toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor-inducing beta interferon (TRIF) or myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) were constructed and administered to mice to determine if these molecules can act as an adjuvant. A DNA vaccine incorporated with the MyD88 genetic adjuvant enhanced antigen-specific humoral immune responses, whereas that with the TRIF genetic adjuvant enhanced cellular immune responses. Incorporating the TRIF genetic adjuvant in a DNA vaccine targeting the influenza HA antigen or the tumor-associated antigen E7 conferred superior protection. These results indicate that TLR adaptor molecules can bridge innate and adaptive immunity and potentiate the effects of DNA vaccines against virus infection and tumors.     

Regulation of Toll-like receptor signaling in innate immunity

Toll-like receptors sense invading pathogens by recognizing a wide variety of conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns(PAMPs).The members of the TLR family selectively utilize adaptor proteins MyD88,TRIF,TIRAP and TRAM to activate overlapping but distinct signal transduction pathways which trigger production of different panels of mediators such as proinflammatory cytokines and type I interferon.These mediators not only control innate immunity but also direct subsequently developed adaptive immunity...     

Absence of TRIF signaling in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated murine mast cells

In macrophages, two signaling pathways, dependent on MyD88 or TIR domain-containing adaptor-inducing IFN-β (TRIF) signaling, emanate from the LPS receptor TLR4/MD-2. In this study, we show that in murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs), only the MyD88-dependent pathway is activated by LPS. The TRIF signaling branch leading both to NF-κB activation and enhanced proinflammatory cytokine production, as well as to IRF3 activation and subsequent IFN-β production, is absent in LPS-stimulated BMMCs. IRF3 activation is also absent in peritoneal mast cells from LPS-injected mice. We observed strongly diminished TRAM expression in BMMCs, but overexpression of TRAM only moderately enhanced IL-6 and did not boost IFN-β responses to LPS in these cells. A combination of very low levels of TRAM and TLR4/MD-2 with the known absence of membrane-bound CD14 are expected to contribute to the defective TRIF signaling in mast cells. We also show that, unlike in macrophages, in BMMCs the TRIF-dependent and -independent IFN-αβ responses to other recognized IFN inducers (dsRNA, adenovirus, and B-DNA) are absent. These results show how the response to the same microbial ligand using the same receptor can be regulated in different cell types of the innate immune system.     

Regulation of Toll-like receptor signaling in the innate immunity

Toll-like receptors sense invading pathogens by recognizing a wide variety of conserved pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The members of TLR family selectively utilize adaptor proteins MyD88, TRIF, TIRAP and TRAM to activate overlapping but distinct signal transduction pathways which trigger production of different panels of mediators such as proinflammatory cytokines and type I interferon. These mediators not only control innate immunity but also direct subsequently developed adaptive immunity. TLR activation is strictly and finely regulated at multiple levels of the signal transduction pathways.