Presence of functional TLR2 and TLR4 on human adipocytes

In addition to the well-known role of adipose tissue in energy metabolism, it has recently been demonstrated that this tissue can secrete a large array of molecules, including inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that adipose cells can behave as immune cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the presence of the two most prominent ‘pattern recognition receptors’ for bacterial and fungal cell wall components, TLR2 and TLR4 on human adipose cells, as well as to assess their functionality. We demonstrated that TLR2 and TLR4 were expressed at relatively high levels (compared to a monocyte cell line) on the surface of human adipose cells. Stimulation of human adipocytes with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or with lipoteichoic acid (LTA), two specific ligands of TLR4 and TLR2, respectively, induced a strong increase in TNFα production. The specificity of the response was demonstrated by the use of anti-TLR4 and anti-TLR2 blocking antibodies, which were able to decrease LPS- or LTA-induced TNFα secretion. Thus, it is clear that these receptors are functional in human adipocytes. This study adds weight to the argument that human fat tissue plays a potential role in innate immunity. Sandrine Bés-Houtmann, Régis Roche, Christian Lefebvre d’Hellencourt and Maya Cesari have contributed equally to this work.     

Importance of extra- and intracellular domains of TLR1 and TLR2 in NFkappa B signaling

Recognition of ligands by toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 requires interactions with other TLRs. TLRs form a combinatorial repertoire to discriminate between the diverse microbial ligands. Diversity results from extracellular and intracellular interactions of different TLRs. This paper demonstrates that TLR1 and TLR2 are required for ara-lipoarabinomannan- and tripalmitoyl cysteinyl lipopeptide-stimulated cytokine secretion from mononuclear cells. Confocal microscopy revealed that TLR1 and TLR2 cotranslationally form heterodimeric complexes on the cell surface and in the cytosol. Simultaneous cross-linking of both receptors resulted in ligand-independent signal transduction. Using chimeric TLRs, we found that expression of the extracellular domains along with simultaneous expression of the intracellular domains of both TLRs was necessary to achieve functional signaling. The domains from each receptor did not need to be contained within a single contiguous protein. Chimeric TLR analysis further defined the toll/IL-1R domains as the area of crucial intracellular TLR1-TLR2 interaction.     

Gingipains inactivate a cell surface ligand on Porphyromonas gingivalis that induces TLR2-and TLR4-independent signaling

Arginine-specific gingipain and lysine-specific gingipain are two major cysteine proteinases produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis. To clarify the role of gingipains in the interaction between P. gingivalis and the innate immune system, CHO reporter cells expressing TLR2 or TLR4 were stimulated with wildtype or gingipain-deficient P. gingivalis cells and activation of nuclear factor-kappaB in these cells was examined. While CHO/CD14 cells and 7.19 cells, an MD-2-defective mutant derived from CHO/CD14 cells, failed to respond to wild-type P. gingivalis, they responded to gingipain-deficient P. gingivalis. On the other hand, CHO/CD14/TLR2 cells responded to both wild-type and gingipain-deficient P. gingivalis. These results suggested that gingipains have no effects on TLR2-dependent signaling from P. gingivalis but have inhibitory effects on TLR2-and TLR4-independent signaling in CHO cells. Indeed, the activity of gingipain-deficient P. gingivalis to induce the activation of 7.19 cells was diminished after treatment of the bacterial cells with gingipains. We next partially purified bacterial cell components activating 7.19 cells from gingipain-deficient P. gingivalis. The activity of the partially purified components was diminished by treatment with heat or gingipains. It is also noteworthy that anti-CD14 mAb inhibited the activation of 7.19 cells induced by the partially purified components. These results indicated that the components of P. gingivalis that were able to induce TLR2-and TLR4-independent signaling were inactivated by gingipains before being recognized by CD14. The inactivation of the components would be helpful for P. gingivalis to escape from the innate immune system.     

Divergent Toll-like receptors in catfish (Ictalurus punctatus): TLR5S, TLR20, TLR21

Toll-like receptors (TLR) mediate pathogen recognition in vertebrate species through detection of conserved microbial ligands. Families of TLR molecules have been described from the genomes of the teleost fish model species zebrafish and Takifugu, but much research remains to characterize the full length sequences and pathogen specificities of individual TLR members in fish. While the majority of these pathogen receptors are conserved among vertebrate species with clear orthologues present in fish for most mammalian TLRs, several interesting differences are present in the TLR repertoire of teleost fish when compared to that of mammals. A soluble form of TLR5 has been reported from salmonid fish and Takifugu rubripes which is not present in mammals, and a large group of TLRs (arbitrarily numbered 19-23) was identified from teleost genomes with no easily discernible orthologues in mammals. To better understand these teleost adaptations to the TLR family, we have isolated, sequenced, and characterized the full-length cDNA and gene sequences of TLR5S, TLR20, and TLR21 from catfish as well as studied their expression pattern in tissues. We also mapped these genes to bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones for genome analysis. While TLR5S appeared to be common in teleost fish, and TLR21 is common to birds, amphibians and fish, TLR20 has only been identified in zebrafish and catfish. Phylogenetic analysis of catfish TLR20 indicated that it is closely related to murine TLR11 and TLR12, two divergent TLRs about which little is known. All three genes appear to exist in catfish as single copy genes.     

Roles for LPS-dependent interaction and relocation of TLR4 and TRAM in TRIF-signaling

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activates two distinct signaling pathways inducing production of proinflammatory cytokines or type I interferons (IFNs), respectively. MyD88 and TIRAP/Mal are essential adaptor molecules for the former but not for the latter pathway. In contrast, TRIF/TICAM-1 and TRAM/TICAM-2 are essential for both. TIRAP is a sorting adaptor molecule recruiting MyD88 to activated TLR4 in the plasma membrane. TRAM is thought to bridge between TLR4 and TRIF by physical association. Little is known, however, how TRAM interacts with TLR4 or with TRIF during LPS response. Here, we show that TRAM recruits TRIF to the plasma membrane. Moreover, LPS induces upregulation of TLR4-association with TRAM and their subsequent translocation into endosome/lysosome. The internalized signaling complex consisting of TLR4 and TRAM colocalizes with TRAF3, a signaling molecule downstream of TRIF, in endosome/lysosome. These results suggest that TLR4 activates TRIF-signaling in endosome/lysosome after relocation from the cell surface.     

Synergistic effect of genetic polymorphisms in TLR6 and TLR10 genes on the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis in a Moldavian population

Polymorphisms in genes that control immune function and regulation may influence susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). In this study, 14 polymorphisms in 12 key genes involved in the immune response (VDR, MR1, TLR1, TLR2, TLR10, SLC11A1, IL1B, IL10, IFNG, TNF, IRAK1, and FOXP3) were tested for their association with pulmonary TB in 271 patients with TB and 251 community-matched controls from the Republic of Moldova. In addition, gene–gene interactions involved in TB susceptibility were analyzed for a total of 43 genetic loci. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed a nominal association between TNF rs1800629 and pulmonary TB (Fisher exact test P = 0.01843). In the pairwise interaction analysis, the combination of the genotypes TLR6 rs5743810 GA and TLR10 rs11096957 GT was significantly associated with an increased genetic risk of pulmonary TB (OR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.62–3.85; Fisher exact test P value = 1.5 × 10⁻⁵, significant after Bonferroni correction). In conclusion, the TLR6 rs5743810 and TLR10 rs11096957 two-locus interaction confers a significantly higher risk for pulmonary TB; due to its high frequency in the population, this SNP combination may serve as a novel biomarker for predicting TB susceptibility.     

Pellino-1 Positively Regulates Toll-like Receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR4 Signaling and Is Suppressed upon Induction of Endotoxin Tolerance

Endotoxin tolerance reprograms Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-mediated macrophage responses by attenuating induction of proinflammatory cytokines while retaining expression of anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial mediators. We previously demonstrated deficient TLR4-induced activation of IL-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) 4, IRAK1, and TANK-binding kinase (TBK) 1 as critical hallmarks of endotoxin tolerance, but mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we examined the role of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Pellino-1 in endotoxin tolerance and TLR signaling. LPS stimulation increased Pellino-1 mRNA and protein expression in macrophages from mice injected with saline and in medium-pretreated human monocytes, THP-1, and MonoMac-6 cells, whereas endotoxin tolerization abrogated LPS inducibility of Pellino-1. Overexpression of Pellino-1 in 293/TLR2 and 293/TLR4/MD2 cells enhanced TLR2- and TLR4-induced nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and expression of IL-8 mRNA, whereas Pellino-1 knockdown reduced these responses. Pellino-1 ablation in THP-1 cells impaired induction of myeloid differentiation primary response protein (MyD88), and Toll-IL-1R domain-containing adapter inducing IFN-β (TRIF)-dependent cytokine genes in response to TLR4 and TLR2 agonists and heat-killed Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, whereas only weakly affecting phagocytosis of heat-killed bacteria. Co-expressed Pellino-1 potentiated NF-κB activation driven by transfected MyD88, TRIF, IRAK1, TBK1, TGF-β-activated kinase (TAK) 1, and TNFR-associated factor 6, whereas not affecting p65-induced responses. Mechanistically, Pellino-1 increased LPS-driven K63-linked polyubiquitination of IRAK1, TBK1, TAK1, and phosphorylation of TBK1 and IFN regulatory factor 3. These results reveal a novel mechanism by which endotoxin tolerance re-programs TLR4 signaling via suppression of Pellino-1, a positive regulator of MyD88- and TRIF-dependent signaling that promotes K63-linked polyubiquitination of IRAK1, TBK1, and TAK1.     

TLR2 synergizes with both TLR4 and TLR9 for induction of the MyD88-dependent splenic cytokine and chemokine response to Streptococcus pneumoniae

We previously demonstrated that induction of splenic cytokine and chemokine secretion in response to Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pn) is MyD88-, but not critically TLR2-dependent, suggesting a role for additional TLRs. In this study, we investigated the role of TLR2, TLR4, and/or TLR9 in mediating this response. We show that a single deficiency in TLR2, TLR4, or TLR9 has only modest, selective effects on cytokine and chemokine secretion, whereas substantial defects were observed in TLR2(-/-)xTLR9(-/-) and TLR2(-/-)xTLR4(-/-) mice, though not as severe as in MyD88(-/-) mice. Chloroquine, which inhibits the function of intracellular TLRs, including TLR9, completely abrogated detectable cytokine and chemokine release in spleen cells from TLR2(-/-)xTLR4(-/-) mice, similar to what is observed for mice deficient in MyD88. These data demonstrate significant synergy between TLR2 and both TLR4 and TLR9 for induction of the MyD88-dependent splenic cytokine and chemokine response to Pn.     

Innate Sensing through Mesenchymal TLR4/MyD88 Signals Promotes Spontaneous Intestinal Tumorigenesis

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A modified dinucleotide motif specifies tRNA recognition by TLR7

RNA can function as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) whose recognition by the innate immune system alerts the body to an impending microbial infection. The recognition of tRNA as either self or nonself RNA by TLR7 depends on its modification patterns. In particular, it is known that the presence of a ribose methylated guanosine at position 18, which is overrepresented in self-RNA, antagonizes an immune response. Here, we report that recognition extends to the next downstream nucleotide and the effectively recognized molecular detail is actually a methylated dinucleotide. The most efficient nucleobases combination of this motif includes two purines, while pyrimidines diminish the effect of ribose methylation. The constraints of this motif stay intact when transposed to other parts of the tRNA. The results argue against a fixed orientation of the tRNA during interaction with TLR7 and, rather, suggest a processive type of inspection.     

Toll样受体（TLR）介导的天然免疫间的相互调节

模式识别受体（PRR）在宿主细胞识别与抵御微生物病原体中起到了重要作用。Toll样受体（TLR）是研究比较清楚的一类PRR,可以识别多种病原体成份,启动天然免疫反应。此外,近来发现了几类其他模式识别受体,如C型凝集素受体（CLR）,核苷酸寡聚结合域（NOD）样受体（NLR）和视黄酸诱导基因I（RIG—I）样受体（RLR）,表明机体的天然免疫反应受到多种机制的精密调控。本文着重综述TLR与其他PRR在识别病原体和介导天然免疫信号通路间的相互关系。     

Metal allergens nickel and cobalt facilitate TLR4 homodimerization independently of MD2

Development of contact allergy requires cooperation of adaptive and innate immunity. Ni²⁺ stimulates innate immunity via TLR4/MD2, the bacterial LPS receptor. This likely involves receptor dimerization, but direct proof is pending and it is unclear if related haptens share this mechanism. We reveal Co²⁺ as second metal stimulating TLR4 and confirm necessity of H456/H458 therein. Experiments with a new TLR4 dimerization mutant established dimerization as a mechanism of metal‐ and LPS‐induced TLR4 activation. Yet, in interaction studies only LPS‐ but not metal‐induced dimerization required MD2. Consistently, soluble TLR4 expressed without MD2 inhibited metal‐ but not LPS‐induced responses, opening new therapeutic perspectives.     

Immunological basis of M13 phage vaccine: Regulation under MyD88 and TLR9 signaling

Peptide-displaying bacteriophages induce mimotope-specific antibody responses, suggesting a novel application of phage-display library as bacteriophage vaccine. We examined the antibody response against M13 phage in mice induced by an i.p. administration of M13 phage in phosphate-buffered saline. We showed here that firstly, mice showed strong IgG antibody responses, particularly, in IgG2b, IgG2c, and IgG3 subclasses even in primary responses. Secondly, IgG production in primary response is totally dependent on MyD88 signaling. These responses were almost comparable, but slightly weaker, in TLR2-, TLR4- and TLR7-deficient mice relative to wild-type mice, suggesting that this enhancing effect is not due to plausible LPS contamination. Thirdly, although primary IgG1 response was not detected in wild-type mice, remarkable IgG1 response was induced in TLR9-deficient mice, suggesting that TLR9 pathway functions as regulatory, but not a simple augmenting signaling cascade, and furthermore, the enhanced IgG1 response was not due to adjuvant effect of single-stranded DNA derived from M13 phage. Thus, innate immunity including TLR regulation is crucial for M13 phage vaccine design.     

Genetic variation in TLR10 is not associated with chronic Q fever,despite the inhibitory effect of TLR10 on Coxiella burnetii-induced cytokines in vitro

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, is recognized by TLR2. TLR10 can act as an inhibitory receptor on TLR2-derived immune responses. Therefore, we investigated the role of TLR10 on C. burnetii-induced cytokine production and assessed whether genetic polymorphisms in TLR10 influences the development of chronic Q fever. HEK293 cells, transfected with TLR2, TLR10 or TLR2/TLR10, and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the presence of anti-TLR10, were stimulated with C. burnetii. In both assays, the absence of TLR10 resulted in increased cytokine responses after C. burnetii stimulation. In addition, the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TLR10 was examined in healthy volunteers whose PBMCs were stimulated with C. burnetii Nine Mile or the Dutch outbreak isolate C. burnetii 3262. Individuals bearing SNPs in TLR10 displayed increased cytokine production upon C. burnetii 3262 stimulation. Furthermore, 139 chronic Q fever patients and 220 controls were genotyped for TLR10 N241H, I775V and I369L. None of these polymorphisms were associated with increased susceptibility to chronic Q fever. In conclusion, TLR10 has an inhibitory effect on in vitro cytokine production by C. burnetii, but the presence of TLR10 polymorphisms does not lead to an increased risk of developing chronic Q fever.     

Regulation of TLR2 Expression and Function in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

Toll-like receptor (TLR1–6) mRNAs are expressed in normal human bronchial epithelial cells with higher basal levels of TLR3. TLR2 mRNA and plasma membrane protein expression was enhanced by pretreatment with Poly IC, a synthetic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) known to activate TLR3. Poly IC also enhanced mRNA expression of adaptor molecules (MyD88 and TIRAP) and coreceptors (Dectin-1 and CD14) involved in TLR2 signaling. Additionally, mRNA expression of TLR3 and dsRNA-sensing proteins MDA5 and RIG-I increased following Poly IC treatment. In contrast, basal mRNA expression of TLR5 and TLR2 coreceptor CD36 was reduced by 77% and 62%, respectively. ELISA of apical and basolateral solutions from Poly IC-stimulated monolayers revealed significantly higher levels of IL-6 and GM-CSF compared with the TLR2 ligand PAM₃CSK₄. Pretreatment with anti-TLR2 blocking antibody inhibited the PAM₃CSK₄-induced increase in IL-6 secretion after Poly IC exposure. An increase in IL-6 secretion was also observed in cells stimulated with Alternaria extract after pretreatment with Poly IC. However, IL-6 secretion was not stimulated by zymosan or lipothechoic acid (LTA). These data demonstrated that upregulation of TLR2 following exposure to dsRNA enhances functional responses of the airway epithelium to certain (PAM₃CSK₄), but not all (zymosan, LTA) TLR2 ligands and that this is likely due to differences in coreceptor expression.     

Distinctive probiotic features share common TLR2‐dependent signalling in intestinal epithelial cells

The underlying mechanisms of probiotics and postbiotics are not well understood, but it is known that both affect the adaptive and innate immune responses. In addition, there is a growing concept that some probiotic strains have common core mechanisms that provide certain health benefits. Here, we aimed to elucidate the signalization of the probiotic bacterial strains Lactobacillus paragasseri K7, Limosilactobacillus fermentum L930BB, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis IM386 and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum WCFS1. We showed in in vitro experiments that the tested probiotics exhibit common TLR2‐ and TLR10‐dependent downstream signalling cascades involving inhibition of NF‐κB signal transduction. Under inflammatory conditions, the probiotics activated phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt anti‐apoptotic pathways and protein kinase C (PKC)‐dependent pathways, which led to regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and tight junctions. These pathways contribute to the regeneration of the intestinal epithelium and modulation of the mucosal immune system, which, together with the inhibition of canonical TLR signalling, promote general immune tolerance. With this study we identified shared probiotic mechanisms and were the first to pinpoint the role of anti‐inflammatory probiotic signalling through TLR10.     

The interaction between myocardial depressant factors in endotoxemic cardiac dysfunction: role of TNF-alpha in TLR4-mediated ICAM-1 expression

Multiple pro-inflammatory mediators contribute to cardiac dysfunction caused by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The rapid TNF-alpha response is likely involved in the induction of down-stream myocardial depressant factors. Studies by our laboratory and others indicate an important role for ICAM-1 in endotoxemic cardiac dysfunction through leukocyte-independent mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to determine: whether ICAM-1 knockout improves cardiac function during endotoxemia and whether TLR4 and TNF-alpha regulate LPS-induced myocardial ICAM-1 expression. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mice were treated with Escherichia coli LPS (0.5mg/kg iv). Myocardial ICAM-1 levels were analyzed by immunoblotting and left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP) was assessed by the Langendorff technique. In wild-type mice, peak ICAM-1 levels were observed at 4h when myocardial contractility was depressed. Myocardial contractility was improved following LPS in mice lacking functional TLR4, TNF-alpha or ICAM-1. TLR4 mutation abolished ICAM-1 expression with abrogation of precedent TNF-alpha response. Similarly, TNF-alpha knockout reduced myocardial ICAM-1 level following LPS treatment. CONCLUSIONS: ICAM-1 contributes to the mechanism of endotoxemic cardiac dysfunction. TNF-alpha is involved in the regulation of myocardial ICAM-1 expression by TLR4.     

Regulation of innate immune responses by transmembrane interactions: Lessons from the TLR family

The mammalian innate immune response is responsible for the early stages of defense against invading pathogens. One of the major receptor families facilitating innate immune activation is the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family. These receptors are type 1 membrane proteins spanning the membrane with a single transmembrane domain (TMD). All TLRs form homo- and hetero-dimers within membranes and new data suggest that the single transmembrane domain of some of these receptors is involved in their dimerization and function. Newly identified TLR dimers are continuously reported but only little is known about the importance of the TMDs for their dimer assembly and signaling regulation. Uncontrolled or untimely activation of TLRs is related to a large number of pathologies ranging from cystic fibrosis to sepsis and cancer. In this review we will focus on the contribution of the TMDs of innate immune receptors – specifically TLR2–to their regulation and function. In addition, we will address the current issues remaining to be solved regarding the mechanistic insights of this regulation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Membrane Structure and Function: Relevance in the Cell's Physiology, Pathology and Therapy.