肺炎克雷伯菌生物膜对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TLRs受体表达的影响

目的研究肺炎克雷伯菌生物膜对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TEas受体表达的影响,探索机体抗生物膜（biofdm,BF）感染免疫的特点。方法将雄性昆明种小鼠40只随机分成2组,一组腹腔植入体外形成肺炎克雷伯菌生物膜的硅胶片,建立留置性医疗装置BF感染模型实验组,另一组植入与实验组同等量的浮游菌作为对照组。实时定量PCR分析2组巨噬细胞TLRsmRNA的表达水平,流式细胞仪检测分析蛋白的表达水平。结果实验生物膜组巨噬细胞TLR2、TLR4mRNA相对表达量是对照浮游菌组的0．23和0．24倍：实验组TLR2、TLR4蛋白表达率分别是（23．27±2．73）％和（15．83±2．04）％,明显低于对照组的（33．42±3．72）％、（21．75±1．25）％（P〈0．05）。结论与浮游菌相比,BF能下调小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TLR2、TLR4表达,从而影响机体的免疫功能,这可能是BF相对浮游菌更容易逃脱机体免疫防御系统、引起慢性感染的机制之一。     

肺炎克雷伯菌生物膜对小鼠巨噬细胞免疫功能的影响

目的研究肺炎克雷伯菌生物膜(BF)对小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TLRs mRNA和细胞因子表达的影响,探索机体抗BF感染免疫的特点。方法将雄性昆明种小鼠40只随机分成2组,一组腹腔植入体外形成肺炎克雷伯菌BF的硅胶片,建立留置性医疗装置BF感染模型实验组,另一组植入与实验组同等量的浮游菌作为对照组。实时定量PCR分析2组巨噬细胞TLRs mRNA的表达水平,双抗体夹心ELISA法测定细胞因子的含量。结果实验BF组巨噬细胞TLR2、TLR4 mRNA表达量是对照浮游菌组的0.23和0.24倍;而TLR5、TLR9两组表达差异无显著性。实验BF组刺激前后IL-1、IL-2的差值明显低于对照浮游菌组,而IL-4则相反(P0.01)。结论与浮游菌相比,BF能下调小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞TLR2、TLR4的表达,机体的免疫应答朝着Th2型免疫反应发展,这可能是BF相对浮游菌更容易逃脱机体免疫防御系统、引起慢性感染的机制之一。     

铜绿假单胞菌3-氧十二烷酰高丝氨酸内酯信号分子对单核细胞Toll样受体2和4的影响

目的研究铜绿假单胞菌群体感应系统信号分子3-氧十二烷酰高丝氨酸内酯（3-O-C12-HSL）对人外周血单核细胞凋亡以及1]LR2／4mRNA表达的影响。方法自健康献血者血液中分离单核细胞进行体外培养,并以0、1、10、50和100μmol／L3-O-C12-HSL作用,采用MTT法,观察不同浓度的3-O-C12-HSL分别作用对人单核细胞生长增殖的影响。用RT-PCR测定单核细胞TLR2／4mRNA表达。结果3-O-C12-HSL刺激单核细胞12h后TLR2／4mRNA表达降低,且呈剂量依赖关系,TLR2／4mRNA在100μmol／L时最为显著（0．3494±0．0979,0．3351±0．1121）。3-O-C12-HSL对单核细胞增殖有抑制作用,呈剂量依赖关系,差异有显著性（P≤0．05）。结论3-O-C12-HSL可以激发单核细胞细胞凋亡,下调Toll样受体的表达水平,从而削弱单核细胞对铜绿假单胞菌的应答能力,这可能是铜绿假单胞菌逃逸免疫清除的重要原因之一。     

过表达IL-12调节单核系肿瘤细胞向巨噬细胞分化

构建过表达白细胞介素-12（interleukin-12,IL-12）的THP-1单核系肿瘤细胞模型,从形态学、巨噬细胞表面标志表达水平及吞噬功能3方面探究过表达IL—12能否调节单核系肿瘤细胞向巨噬细胞分化。结果发现,与空白和空载组相比,IL-12组的THP．1细胞界限不明显,散在细胞增多;呈圆形或不规则圆形,偶见毛刺状突起;核仁模糊或消失,核染色质条索状浓集;CD68mRNA和蛋白表达量均升高俨〈0．05）。与空白组相比,CDllbmRNA和蛋白表达量升高不明显俨〉O．05）,但72hCD11b蛋白表达量明显高于相同培养条件下的空载组（P〈O．05）。培养72h后各组细胞吞噬能力比较,IL-12组吞噬率（36．7±1．2）％高于空白组（15．7±3．1）％和空载组（28．O±1．5）％,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。上述结果提示,过表达IL-12可以促进单核系肿瘤细胞向巨噬细胞分化。     

卵巢癌患者化疗后骨髓抑制并发肺部感染病原菌特点及与外周血单核细胞Nrf2 mRNA和TLR7 mRNA的相关性

目的 观察卵巢癌患者化疗后骨髓抑制并发肺部感染病原菌特点,并分析其与外周血单核细胞（PBMC）Nrf2 mRNA、TLR7 mRNA表达的相关性。方法 选取我院30例化疗后骨髓抑制并发肺部感染的卵巢癌患者（并发肺部感染组）及同期30例化疗后骨髓抑制无肺部感染的卵巢癌患者（未并发肺部感染组）为研究对象,观察并发肺部感染患者病原菌特点,检测两组患者化疗后PBMC Nrf2 mRNA、TLR7 mRNA的表达水平,分析Nrf2 mRNA、TLR7 mRNA与骨髓抑制的关系及Nrf2 mRNA、TLR7 mRNA对骨髓抑制并发肺部感染的预测价值。结果共检出病原菌30株,其中革兰阳性菌12株（40.00%）,革兰阴性菌18株（60.00%）,且以铜绿假单胞菌为主（20.00%）。白细胞减少0～Ⅰ度患者、中性粒细胞减少0～Ⅰ度患者Nrf2 mRNA水平显著高于白细胞减少Ⅱ～Ⅲ度患者和中性粒细胞减少Ⅱ～Ⅲ度患者,而TLR7 mRNA水平显著低于白细胞减少Ⅱ～Ⅲ度患者和中性粒细胞减少Ⅱ～Ⅲ度患者（均P<0.05）。白细胞减少、中性粒细胞减少与Nrf2 mRNA表达水平呈负相关,与TLR7 mRN...     

长期留置管细菌分布及生物膜形成能力调查

目的了解长期留置管细菌分布及生物膜形成能力。方法10％血清肉汤振荡培养留置管中细菌,常规生化和分子生物学方法鉴定分离菌,结晶紫半定量法检测分离菌生物膜形成能力。结果留置管细菌检出率为49．1％（53／108）;共分离60株菌,以葡萄球菌分离率最高（70．0％）,其次为肠球菌（15．O％）和大肠埃希菌（6．7％）;所有分离菌均具有生物膜形成能力,其中38株（63．3％）具有较强的生物膜形成能力。结论长期留置管细菌检出率较高,大部分分离菌具有较强的生物膜形成能力。     

巨噬细胞对新生隐球菌主要毒性基因表达的影响

目的研究巨噬细胞对新生隐球菌B3501标准株的主要毒性基因表达影响。方法将对数生长期的J774．16巨噬细胞分别与新生隐球菌野生株B3501共孵育4h,收集被J774．16吞噬的B3501作为实验组,提取实验组和在37℃条件下5％二氧化碳单独培养的对照组B3501的RNA,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术,检测J774．16细胞内和对照组B3501的CNLAC1、CAP60、URE1、NMT表达的差异。结果实验组中新生隐球菌的CAP6,CNLAC1,NMT及URE1基因的mRNA在每百万看家基因（GAPDH基因）中的平均含量分别为（2．698±0．084）×10^4,（1．806±0．322）×10^4,（2．267±0．074）×10^4和（4．041±0．271）×10^4;而对照组这4种毒性因子基因含量分别为：（1．139±0．183）×10^6,（9．324±5．028）×10^3,（1．326±0．028）×10^6和（1．307±0．001）×10^6,均远比实验组高,其中以NMT最为明显。结论新生隐球菌被巨噬细胞吞噬后,主要的毒性因子基因表达下降,其中以NMT最为明显,而CNLAC1下降幅度最小。     

Toll样受体2及Toll样受体4在大鼠实验性变应性鼻炎中的表达

目的研究Toll样受体2（Toll-like receptor2,TLR2）及Toll样受体4（TLR4）在实验性变应性鼻炎大鼠鼻黏膜中的表达及脂多糖（Lipopolysaccharide,LPS）对其表达的影响。方法SD大鼠48只随机分为正常对照组（A组）;变应性鼻炎组（B组）：经腹腔注射及鼻腔滴入卵清白蛋白（Ovalbumin,OVA）建立变应性鼻炎（Allergic rhinitis,AR）模型;变应性鼻炎＋LPS刺激组（C组）：大鼠激发成变应性鼻炎模型后再以LPS滴鼻。用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）方法检测鼻黏膜中TLR2 mRNA、TLR4 mRNA的表达。结果B、C组大鼠均成功激发为AR动物模型;各组鼻黏膜中均有TLR2 mRNA、TLR4 mRNA表达;各组间TLR2 mRNA的表达差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。B、C组TLR4 mRNA的表达较A组高（P〈0．01）;C组TLR4 mRNA表达较B组增高（P〈0．01）。结论AR大鼠有TLLR4的表达增高;LPS刺激后TLR4表达进一步增高,说明TLR4可能参与AR的发病。TLR2在AR大鼠中的表达未见增高;LPS刺激后。TLR2表达未见进一步增高,TLR2与变应性鼻炎的关系有待进一步研究。     

TLR4在四氯化碳诱导的肝硬化大鼠骨髓血窦内皮细胞的表达

目的：检测Toll样受体4（TLR4）在四氯化碳诱导的肝硬化大鼠骨髓血窦内皮细胞的表达,为进一步研究肝硬化时骨髓损伤的发生机制提供实验依据。方法：选择Wistar大鼠给予腹腔注射CCl4,一周两次,建立肝硬化大鼠模型。分别于建模8周和12周检测大鼠血浆内毒素的水平,免疫组化检测大鼠骨髓血窦内皮细胞上TLR4的表达情况,RT-PCR测定骨髓组织中TLR4mRNA的表达,分析TLR4的表达与内毒素血症间的关系。结果：给予CCl4 8周和12周时,对照组大鼠血浆内毒素水平分别为（0．216±0．024）Eu／ml和（0．133±0．022）Eu／ml,模型组大鼠血浆内毒素水平分别为（0．626±0．021）Eu／ml和（0．725±0．031）Eu／ml,分别较对照组显著升高,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．001）;骨髓血窦内皮细胞TLR4蛋白表达及骨髓组织中TLR4mRNA的表达均显著高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。大鼠骨髓TLR4蛋白和mRNA表达与血浆内毒素水平均呈显著正相关（r=0．841,0．803,P均〈0．001）。结论：CCl4诱导的肝硬化大鼠骨髓血窦内皮细胞TLR4表达升高,并伴随大鼠内毒素血症的发生,提示肝硬化时肠源性内毒素血症可能参与了骨髓的造血功能的损害和病变。     

表皮葡萄球菌 YycG单克隆抗体抗生物膜活性的研究

YycFG双组分信号转导系统调控葡萄球菌细胞壁合成、代谢及生物膜形成,PAS是组氨酸激酶YycG的胞外信号感应区域。本研究针对胞外PAS区域制备抗YycG‐PAS单克隆抗体（YycG‐PAS MAb ）。免疫鉴定结果表明,YycG‐PAS MAb可与重组YycG‐PAS蛋白和表皮葡萄球菌菌体 YycG蛋白结合,属于IgG2a亚型,效价为log 215。YycG‐PAS MAb（80μg／ml）与表皮葡萄球菌 RP62A菌株共培养24 h ,对细菌生物膜形成的抑制率达46．5％,与 mIgG （80μg／mL ）组相比有显著差异（ P＜0．05）。YycG‐PAS MAb （80μg／ml）与低浓度万古霉素（1μg／ml）联用可增强对24 h细菌生物膜的抑制作用,抑制率由57．6％提高至93．0％（P＜0．01）。YycG‐PAS MAb对浮游状态表皮葡萄球菌的生长及存活无显著影响。本研究为YycG‐PAS MAb在抗生物膜感染中的潜在应用价值奠定了一定基础。     

Human intestinal epithelial cells are broadly unresponsive to Toll-like receptor 2-dependent bacterial ligands: implications for host-microbial interactions in the gut

Intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) interact with a high density of Gram-positive bacteria and are active participants in mucosal immune responses. Recognition of Gram-positive organisms by Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 induces proinflammatory gene expression by diverse cells. We hypothesized that IEC are unresponsive to Gram-positive pathogen-associated molecular patterns and sought to characterize the functional responses of IEC to TLR2-specific ligands. Human colonic epithelial cells isolated by laser capture microscopy and IEC lines (Caco-2, T84, HT-29) were analyzed for expression of TLR2, TLR6, TLR1, and Toll inhibitory protein (Tollip) mRNA by RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR. Response to Gram-positive bacterial ligands was measured by NF-kappa B reporter gene activation and IL-8 secretion. TLR2 protein expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Colonic epithelial cells and lamina propria cells from both uninflamed and inflamed tissue demonstrate low expression of TLR2 mRNA compared with THP-1 monocytes. IECs were unresponsive to TLR2 ligands including the staphylococcal-derived Ags phenol soluble modulin, peptidoglycan, and lipotechoic acid and the mycobacterial-derived Ag soluble tuberculosis factor. Transgenic expression of TLR2 and TLR6 restored responsiveness to phenol soluble modulin and peptidoglycan in IEC. In addition to low levels of TLR2 protein expression, IEC also express high levels of the inhibitory molecule Tollip. We conclude that IEC are broadly unresponsive to TLR2 ligands secondary to deficient expression of TLR2 and TLR6. The relative absence of TLR2 protein expression by IEC and high level of Tollip expression may be important in preventing chronic proinflammatory cytokine secretion in response to commensal Gram-positive bacteria in the gut.     

Induction of bacterial lipoprotein tolerance is associated with suppression of toll-like receptor 2 expression

Tolerance to bacterial cell wall components including lipopolysaccharide (LPS) may represent an essential regulatory mechanism during bacterial infection. Two members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, TLR2 and TLR4, recognize the specific pattern of bacterial cell wall components. TLR4 has been found to be responsible for LPS tolerance. However, the role of TLR2 in bacterial lipoprotein (BLP) tolerance and LPS tolerance is unclear. Pretreatment of human THP-1 monocytic cells with a synthetic bacterial lipopeptide induced tolerance to a second BLP challenge with diminished tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 production, termed BLP tolerance. Furthermore, BLP-tolerized THP-1 cells no longer responded to LPS stimulation, indicating a cross-tolerance to LPS. Induction of BLP tolerance was CD14-independent, as THP-1 cells that lack membrane-bound CD14 developed tolerance both in serum-free conditions and in the presence of a specific CD14 blocking monoclonal antibody (MEM-18). Pre-exposure of THP-1 cells to BLP suppressed mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation and nuclear factor-kappaB activation in response to subsequent BLP and LPS stimulation, which is comparable with that found in LPS-tolerized cells, indicating that BLP tolerance and LPS tolerance may share similar intracellular pathways. However, BLP strongly enhanced TLR2 expression in non-tolerized THP-1 cells, whereas LPS stimulation had no effect. Furthermore, a specific TLR2 blocking monoclonal antibody (2392) attenuated BLP-induced, but not LPS-induced, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 production, indicating BLP rather than LPS as a ligand for TLR2 engagement and activation. More importantly, pretreatment of THP-1 cells with BLP strongly inhibited TLR2 activation in response to subsequent BLP stimulation. In contrast, LPS tolerance did not prevent BLP-induced TLR2 overexpression. These results demonstrate that BLP tolerance develops through down-regulation of TLR2 expression.     

Mechanical stress induces tumor necrosis factor-{alpha} production through Ca2+ release-dependent TLR2 signaling

We studied centrifugation-mediated mechanical stress-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) production in the monocyte-like cell line THP-1. The induction of TNF-alpha by mechanical stress was dependent on the centrifugation speed and produced the highest level of TNF-alpha after 1 h of stimulation. TNF-alpha production returned to normal levels after 24 h of stimulation. Mechanical stress also induced Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) mRNA in proportion to the expression of TNF-alpha. The inhibition of TLR2 signaling by dominant negative myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) blocked TNF-alpha expression response to mechanical stress. After transient overexpression of TLR2 in HEK-293 cells, mechanical stress induced TNF-alpha mRNA production. Interestingly, mechanical stress activated the c-Src-dependent TLR2 phosphorylation, which is necessary to induce Ca(2+) fluxes. When THP-1 cells were pretreated with BAPTA-AM, thapsigargin, and NiCl(2).6H(2)O, followed by mechanical stimulation, both TLR2 and TNF-alpha production were inhibited, indicating that centrifugation-mediated mechanical stress induces both TLR2 and TNF-alpha production through Ca(2+) releases from intracellular Ca(2+) stores following TLR2 phosphorylation. In addition, TNF-alpha treatment in THP-1 cells induced TLR2 production in response to mechanical stress, whereas the preincubation of anti-TNF-alpha antibody scarcely induced the mechanical stress-mediated production of TLR2, indicating that TNF-alpha produced by mechanically stimulated THP-1 cells affected TLR2 production. We concluded that TNF-alpha production induced by centrifugation-mediated mechanical stress is dependent on MyD88-dependent TLR2 signaling that is associated with Ca(2+) release and that TNF-alpha production induced by mechanical stress affects TLR2 production.     

Curcumin decreases toll-like receptor-2 gene expression and function in human monocytes and neutrophils

Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2) is a pattern recognition receptor that senses many types of bacterial components and activates signaling pathways that induce inflammatory cytokines. A hyperresponsiveness to pathogens caused by increased expression of TLR2 triggers exaggeration of some inflammatory diseases. Here, we showed that curcumin, a well-known anti-inflammatory agent derived from the curry spice turmeric, inhibits TLR2 expression in various TLR2-expressing innate immune cell lines such as monocytic THP-1 cells, neutrophilic-differentiated HL-60 cells. Strong suppression of TLR2 gene expression was specifically observed at concentrations of curcumin in the range 40-100 μM. Consistent with decreased expression of TLR2 mRNA, protein expression and ligand-responsiveness of TLR2 were markedly reduced by curcumin treatment. Moreover, curcumin-dependent down-regulation of TLR2 expression and function was also observed in primary peripheral blood monocytes (MC) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). Finally, we determined the importance of curcumin-dependent radical generation for the suppressive effect of curcumin on TLR2 expression. Thus, our data demonstrate that curcumin inhibits TLR2 gene expression and function possibly via an oxidative process.     

Muramyldipeptide and diaminopimelic acid-containing desmuramylpeptides in combination with chemically synthesized Toll-like receptor agonists synergistically induced production of interleukin-8 in a NOD2- and NOD1-dependent manner, respectively, in human monocytic cells in culture

Two types of synthetic peptidoglycan fragments, diaminopimelic acid (DAP)-containing desmuramylpeptides (DMP) and muramyldipeptide (MDP), induced secretion of interleukin (IL)-8 in a dose-dependent manner in human monocytic THP-1 cells, although high concentrations of compounds are required as compared with chemically synthesized Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists mimicking bacterial components: TLR2 agonistic lipopeptide (Pam3CSSNA), TLR4 agonistic lipid A (LA-15-PP) and TLR9 agonistic bacterial CpG DNA. We found marked synergistic IL-8 secretion induced by MDP or DAP-containing DMP in combination with synthetic TLR agonists in THP-1 cells. Suppression of the mRNA expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)1 and NOD2 by RNA interference specifically inhibited the synergistic IL-8 secretion induced by DMP and MDP with these TLR agonists respectively. In accordance with the above results, enhanced IL-8 mRNA expression and the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB induced by MDP or DMP in combination with synthetic TLR agonists were markedly suppressed in NOD2- and NOD1-silenced cells respectively. These findings indicated that NOD2 and NOD1 are specifically responsible for the synergistic effects of MDP and DMP with TLR agonists, and suggested that in host innate immune responses to invading bacteria, combinatory dual signalling through extracellular TLRs and intracellular NODs might lead to the synergistic activation of host cells.     

Toll-like receptor 2 is expressed by alveolar epithelial cells type II and macrophages in the human lung

The ability of the host to recognize pulmonary invasion by pathogenic organisms and establish an appropriate host response to infection requires innate immune defense mechanisms. Early bacterial clearance in the lung is mediated by alveolar macrophages (AM) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Additionally alveolar epithelial cells type II (AEC-II) may act as immunoregulatory cells. The toll-like receptors (TLR) are part of this innate immune defense, recognizing conserved patterns on microorganisms. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is crucial in detecting components of gram-positive bacteria and mycobacteria. Signals initiated by the interaction of TLR2 with bacterial components direct the subsequent inflammatory response. The detection of TLR2 mRNA in human lung tissue prompted us to localize the expression of mRNA and protein at the cellular level using a novel method for tissue fixation. We utilized HOPE-fixed lung specimen sections for targeting mRNA by in situ hybridization and protein by immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal antibody TL2.1. In normal lung areas the expression of TLR2 mRNA and protein was found to be located in cells resembling AEC-II and AM. Expression of mRNA was verified by RT-PCR and DNA sequencing. These results indicate a potential mechanism of increased immunosurveillance at the alveolar level controlling the localized infection.     

Mycobacteria inhibition of IFN-gamma induced HLA-DR gene expression by up-regulating histone deacetylation at the promoter region in human THP-1 monocytic cells

Infection of macrophages with mycobacteria has been shown to inhibit the macrophage response to IFN-gamma. In the current study, we examined the effect of Mycobacteria avium, Mycobacteria tuberculosis, and TLR2 stimulation on IFN-gamma-induced gene expression in human PMA-differentiated THP-1 monocytic cells. Mycobacterial infection inhibited IFN-gamma-induced expression of HLA-DRalpha and HLA-DRbeta mRNA and partially inhibited CIITA expression but did not affect expression of IFN regulatory factor-1 mRNA. To determine whether inhibition of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity could rescue HLA-DR gene expression, butyric acid and MS-275, inhibitors of HDAC activity, were added at the time of M. avium or M. tuberculosis infection or TLR2 stimulation. HDAC inhibition restored the ability of these cells to express HLA-DRalpha and HLA-DRbeta mRNA in response to IFN-gamma. Histone acetylation induced by IFN-gamma at the HLA-DRalpha promoter was repressed upon mycobacteria infection or TLR2 stimulation. HDAC gene expression was not affected by mycobacterial infection. However, mycobacterial infection or TLR2 stimulation up-regulated expression of mammalian Sin3A, a corepressor that is required for MHC class II repression by HDAC. Furthermore, we show that the mammalian Sin3A corepressor is associated with the HLA-DRalpha promoter in M. avium-infected THP-1 cells stimulated with IFN-gamma. Thus, mycobacterial infection of human THP-1 cells specifically inhibits HLA-DR gene expression by a novel pathway that involves HDAC complex formation at the HLA-DR promoter, resulting in histone deacetylation and gene silencing.     

Staphylococcus aureus biofilms prevent macrophage phagocytosis and attenuate inflammation in vivo

Biofilms are complex communities of bacteria encased in a matrix composed primarily of polysaccharides, extracellular DNA, and protein. Staphylococcus aureus can form biofilm infections, which are often debilitating due to their chronicity and recalcitrance to antibiotic therapy. Currently, the immune mechanisms elicited during biofilm growth and their impact on bacterial clearance remain to be defined. We used a mouse model of catheter-associated biofilm infection to assess the functional importance of TLR2 and TLR9 in the host immune response during biofilm formation, because ligands for both receptors are present within the biofilm. Interestingly, neither TLR2 nor TLR9 impacted bacterial density or inflammatory mediator secretion during biofilm growth in vivo, suggesting that S. aureus biofilms circumvent these traditional bacterial recognition pathways. Several potential mechanisms were identified to account for biofilm evasion of innate immunity, including significant reductions in IL-1β, TNF-α, CXCL2, and CCL2 expression during biofilm infection compared with the wound healing response elicited by sterile catheters, limited macrophage invasion into biofilms in vivo, and a skewing of the immune response away from a microbicidal phenotype as evidenced by decreases in inducible NO synthase expression concomitant with robust arginase-1 induction. Coculture studies of macrophages with S. aureus biofilms in vitro revealed that macrophages successful at biofilm invasion displayed limited phagocytosis and gene expression patterns reminiscent of alternatively activated M2 macrophages. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that S. aureus biofilms are capable of attenuating traditional host proinflammatory responses, which may explain why biofilm infections persist in an immunocompetent host.