Macrophages polarization is mediated by the combination of PRR ligands and distinct inflammatory cytokines

Macrophages recognize microbes through Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs), and then release pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Recent studies have highlighted that collaboration between different PRRs. However, these studies have neglected the crosstalk between various PRRs on macrophages. In the present study, we investigated the interplay of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (NLRs) (NOD1, NOD2) and TLRs (TLR1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) in terms of macrophage activation, the expression and production of cytokines. The macrophages were stimulated with a single PRR ligand or a combination of TLR and NOD ligands. After 8 h of incubation, the mRNA expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p35, IL-12p40, IL-13, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) was evaluated. The production of these cytokines was also measured. NOD2 synergized with TLR3 agonists on enhancement of IL-10 release. However, the combination of NOD1 with TLR3 ligands showed little effect on IL-10 production. Moreover, NOD2 inhibited the percentages of CD11b + F4/80 + cells activated by TLR3 agonist.     

The crosstalk between TLR2 and NOD2 in Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis

Innate immunity is considered to be critical in the pathogenesis of fungal keratitis. Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) recognize conserved microbial structures called pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS), thereby initiating the innate immunity. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors (leucine-rich repeat-containing receptors, NLRs) are two major PRR families. The crosstalk between TLR2 and NOD2 is not completely understood, and their interrelationship in Aspergillus fumigates keratitis is still unclear. To our surprise, we found herein that NOD2 and TLR2 were increased by A. fumigatus conidia in immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). In addition, NOD2 expression was up-regulated by its agonist muramyl dipeptide (MDP), along with receptor interacting protein 2 (RIP2), nuclear factor κB (NFκB)-p65, inhibitor of NFκB (IκB)-α, and multiple inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Interestingly, zymosan, a TLR2 agonist, promoted the expression of NOD2 and RIP2 in a TLR2-dependent manner. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the increased expression of NOD2 and RIP2 caused by A. fumigatus conidia occurred in part through a TLR2-dependent pathway. However, zymosan pretreatment decreased NOD2 and RIP2 expression along with the MDP induced secretion of inflammatory cytokines in HCECs. In agreement, NOD2 knockdown by small interfering RNA (siRNA) reduced the release of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α induced by A. fumigatus conidia. These findings suggest the existence of complex interactions between TLR2 and NOD2 in HCECs inflammatory response against A. fumigatus infection.     

The cytosolic pattern recognition receptor NOD1 induces inflammatory interleukin-8 during Chlamydia trachomatis infection

Inflammation is a hallmark of chlamydial infections, but how inflammatory cytokines are induced is not well understood. Pattern recognition receptors (PRR) of the host innate immune system recognize pathogen molecules and activate intracellular signaling pathways that modulate immune responses. The role of PRR such as Toll-like receptors (TLR) and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD) proteins in the endogenous interleukin-8 (IL-8) response induced during Chlamydia trachomatis infection is not known. We hypothesized that a PRR is essential for the IL-8 response induced by C. trachomatis infection. RNA interference was used to knock down the TLR signaling partner MyD88 as well as NOD1 and its signaling molecule receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2). IL-8 induced at 30 h postinfection by C. trachomatis was dependent on NOD1 signaling through RIP2; however, the IL-8 response was independent of MyD88-dependent TLR signaling. Activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase cellular signaling pathway, which is essential for up-regulation of IL-8 in response to C. trachomatis infection, was independent of NOD1 or RIP2. We conclude that the endogenous IL-8 response induced by C. trachomatis infection is dependent upon NOD1 PRR signaling through RIP2 as part of a signal system requiring multiple inputs for optimal IL-8 induction. Since ERK is not activated through this pathway, a concomitant interaction between the host and bacteria is additionally required for full activation of the endogenous IL-8 response.     

Pattern-recognition receptors in human eosinophils

The pattern-recognition receptor (PRR) family includes Toll-like receptors (TLRs), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD) -like receptors (NLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) and the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). They recognize various microbial signatures or host-derived danger signals and trigger an immune response. Eosinophils are multifunctional leucocytes involved in the pathogenesis of several inflammatory processes, including parasitic helminth infection, allergic diseases, tissue injury and tumour immunity. Human eosinophils express several PRRs, including TLR1-5, TLR7, TLR9, NOD1, NOD2, Dectin-1 and RAGE. Receptor stimulation induces survival, oxidative burst, activation of the adhesion system and release of cytokines (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-α and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor), chemokines (interleukin-8 and growth-related oncogene-α) and cytotoxic granule proteins (eosinophil cationic protein, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, eosinophil peroxidase and major basic protein). It is also evident that eosinophils play an immunomodulatory role by interacting with surrounding cells. The presence of a broad range of PRRs in eosinophils indicates that they are not only involved in defence against parasitic helminths, but also against bacteria, viruses and fungi. From a clinical perspective, eosinophilic PRRs seem to be involved in both allergic and malignant diseases by causing exacerbations and affecting tumour growth, respectively.     

NOD2 Stimulation by Staphylococcus aureus-Derived Peptidoglycan Is Boosted by Toll-Like Receptor 2 Costimulation with Lipoproteins in Dendritic Cells

Mutations in the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-containing protein 2 (NOD2) play an important role in the pathogenesis of Crohn''s disease. NOD2 is an intracellular pattern recognition receptor (PRR) that senses bacterial peptidoglycan (PGN) structures, e.g., muramyl dipeptide (MDP). Here we focused on the effect of more-cross-linked, polymeric PGN fragments (PGNpol) in the activation of the innate immune system. In this study, the effect of combined NOD2 and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) stimulation was examined compared to single stimulation of the NOD2 receptor alone. PGNpol species derived from a lipoprotein-containing Staphylococcus aureus strain (SA113) and a lipoprotein-deficient strain (SA113 Δlgt) were isolated. While PGNpol constitutes a combined NOD2 and TLR2 ligand, lipoprotein-deficient PGNpolΔlgt leads to activation of the immune system only via the NOD2 receptor. Murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), J774 cells, and Mono Mac 6 (MM6) cells were stimulated with these ligands. Cytokines (interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-12p40, and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]) as well as DC activation and maturation parameters were measured. Stimulation with PGNpolΔlgt did not lead to enhanced cytokine secretion or DC activation and maturation. However, stimulation with PGNpol led to strong cytokine secretion and subsequent DC maturation. These results were confirmed in MM6 and J774 cells. We showed that the NOD2-mediated activation of DCs with PGNpol was dependent on TLR2 costimulation. Therefore, signaling via both receptors leads to a more potent activation of the immune system than that with stimulation via each receptor alone.     

Intracellular signaling and cytokine induction upon interactions of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae with pattern-recognition receptors

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and other pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) of the innate immune system form functional receptor complexes that recognize and respond to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Porphyromonas gingivalis is an important pathogen in human periodontitis and has also been implicated in atherosclerosis. A major virulence factor of this pathogen is the fimbriae, which function as a surface adhesin. Here we present evidence that fimbriae also constitute a predominant P. gingivalis proinflammatory molecule which activates the TLR signaling pathway resulting in induction of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha) and chemokines (IL-8) in monocytic cells. Although TLR2 and TLR4 mediate cellular activation in response to fimbriae, other PRRs, namely CD14 and CD11b/CD18, are involved in the recognition of fimbriae. We thus propose that fimbriae function as a PAMP which interacts with a PRR multi-receptor complex, where CD14 and CD11b/CD18 function as recruiting receptors and TLRs function as signaling receptors. In addition to cytokine induction, TLR activation by fimbriae also results in upregulation of the CD40, CD80, and CD86 costimulatory molecules in antigen-presenting cells, suggesting that fimbriae are sensed as a potential "danger" to the host immune system. Moreover, proinflammatory cytokine induction is attenuated upon repeated cellular stimulation with P. gingivalis fimbriae. This mechanism of tolerance induction which serves to mitigate excessive and potentially harmful inflammatory reactions appears to be due partly to fimbria-induced downregulation of the expression of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1), an important signaling intermediate of the TLR pathway. Understanding the molecular basis of how the host recognizes and responds to P. gingivalis fimbriae is essential for developing molecular approaches to control P. gingivalis-induced inflammatory responses in periodontal disease and perhaps atherosclerosis.     

Pathogen recognition and Toll-like receptor targeted therapeutics in innate immune cells

The innate immune system deploys a variety of pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) which include Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors, NOD-like receptors, and C-type lectin receptors to detect the invasion of pathogens and initiate protective responses. The intercellular and intracellular orchestration of signals from different PRRs, their endogenous or microbial ligands and accessory molecules determine the stimulatory or inhibitory responses. Progressing over the last two decades, considerable research on the molecular mechanisms underlying host–pathogen interactions has led to a paradigm shift of our understanding of TLR signaling in the innate immune system. Given that a significant amount of evidence implicates TLRs in the pathogenesis of immune diseases and cancer, and their activation occurs early in the inflammatory cascade, they are attractive targets for novel therapeutic agents. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in TLR signaling cross talks and the mechanism of pathogen recognition with special emphasis on the role of TLRs in tumor immunity and TLR-targeted therapeutics.     

Extracellular nucleoprotein exacerbates influenza virus pathogenesis by activating Toll-like receptor 4 and the NLRP3 inflammasome

Host immune responses, such as those initiated by pattern recognition receptor (PRR) activation, are important for viral clearance and pathogenesis. However, little is known about the interactions of viral proteins with surface PRRs or, more importantly, the association of innate immune activation with viral pathogenesis. In this study, we showed that internal influenza virus proteins were released from infected cells. Among these proteins, nucleoprotein (NP) played a critical role in viral pathogenesis by stimulating neighboring cells through toll-like receptor (TLR)2, TLR4, and the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. Through the activation of these PRRs, NP induced the production of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, which subsequently led to the induction of trypsin. Trypsin induced by NP increased the infectivity of influenza virus, leading to increases in viral replication and pathology upon subsequent viral infection. These results reveal the role of released NP in influenza pathogenesis and highlight the importance of the interactions of internal viral proteins with PRRs in the extracellular compartment during viral pathogenesis.     

Suppression of allergic reaction by λ-carrageenan: Toll-like receptor 4/MyD88-dependent and -independent modulation of immunity

BACKGROUND: Recognition of foreign substances by innate immunity through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) regulates acquired immunity such as allergic reaction. Because PRRs recognize heterogeneous ligands, daily food intake can potentially regulate immune allergic reaction. OBJECTIVE: Elucidation of the effect of lambda-carrageenan on allergic reactions was aimed. METHOD: IFN-gamma and IL-4 was measured in in vitro T cell-stimulated culture. Cytokine production from macrophages in response to lambda-carrageenan was measured as indicator for innate immunity activation. Mice were immunized with OVA in alum to induce specific IgE, and then histamine release was induced by systemic injection of OVA. RESULTS: Activation of innate immunity by lambda-carrageenan is dependent on Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) and MyD88, in which induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha and IL-6 was largely impaired in macrophages from TLR4- and MyD88-deficient mice. Footpad oedema, a model for in vivo inflammatory reactions, was significantly reduced in these mice. Similar to recent evidence showing a preference for the stimulation of Th1 via TLR/MyD88 signalling, lambda-carrageenan showed enhanced IFN-gamma and decreased IL-4 in stimulated T cell cultures. Interestingly, increased IFN-gamma production was still seen in TLR4- and MyD88-deficient splenocytes. Oral administration of lambda-carrageenan to immunized mice successfully decreased OVA-specific IgE, and lambda-carrageenan was also effective in previously immunized mice. Further, serum histamine release upon systemic challenge of OVA was significantly inhibited. Neither OVA-specific IgG1/IgG2a nor cytokine secretion from in vitro cultures were altered, suggesting the involvement of multiple PRRs as demonstrated by TLR4/MyD88-independent IFN-gamma up-regulation. The simultaneous feeding of OVA with lipopolysaccharide abrogated oral tolerance, but lambda-carrageenan was not only devoid of such an effect but was also found to promote oral tolerance in the absence of TLR4. CONCLUSION: lambda-Carrageenan was suggested to be a useful dietary supplement to ameliorate allergic reactions while maintaining oral tolerance-dependent intestinal homeostasis.     

NOD1,NOD2和NLRP3炎症小体与牙髓炎

模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptors,PRRs)识别病原相关分子模式(pathogen associated molecule patterns,PAMP)激活固有免疫系统,是抵抗病原微生物入侵的第一道防线.核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域蛋白(nucleotide-binding oligomerization domains,NODs)和NOD样受体蛋白3(NODlike protein 3,NLRP3)属胞质内PRRs家族.NOD1和NOD2激活NF-κB,MAPK,JNK,p38和ERK信号通路,促进TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8和IL-12等多种炎性因子的转录表达.NLRP3炎症小体激活caspase-1,并促进IL-18和IL-1β表达.牙髓位于低顺应性根管系统中,牙髓环境环境与机体其他组织不同.目前的研究表明NOD1,NOD2和NLRP3炎症小体与牙髓固有免疫及牙髓炎的发生、发展有关.     

The role of innate signaling in the homeostasis of tolerance and immunity in the intestine

In the intestine innate recognition of microbes is achieved through pattern recognition receptor (PRR) families expressed in immune cells and different cell lineages of the intestinal epithelium. Toll-like receptor (TLR) and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) families are emerging as key mediators of immunity through their role as maturation factors of immune cells and triggers for the production of cytokines and chemokines and antimicrobial factors. At the mucosal surface chronic activation of the immune system is avoided through the epithelial production of a glycocalyx, steady-state production of antimicrobial factors as well as the selective expression and localization of PRRs. Additionally, the polarization of epithelial TLR signaling and suppression of NF-κB activation by luminal commensals appears to contribute to the homeostasis of tolerance and immunity. Several studies have demonstrated that TLR signaling in epithelial cells contributes to a range of homeostatic mechanisms including proliferation, wound healing, epithelial integrity, and regulation of mucosal immune functions. The intestinal epithelium appears to have uniquely evolved to maintain mucosal tolerance and immunity, and future efforts to further understand the molecular mechanisms of intestinal homeostasis may have a major impact on human health.     

The response of human dendritic cells to co-ligation of pattern-recognition receptors

Dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen-presenting cells that express a wide variety of pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs). Triggering of a single PRR, especially Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and C-type lectins, induces maturation of DCs, but cooperativity between multiple PRRs is needed in order to achieve an effective immune response. In this review, we summarize the published data related to the effect of individual and joint PRR agonists on DCs and Langerhans-like cells derived from monocytes (MoDCs and MoLCs, respectively). Our results demonstrate that MoDCs co-stimulated with TLR3/TLR7 and TLR3/Dectin-1 ligands induced superior T helper (Th)1 and Th17 immune responses, compared to effects of single agonists. The opposite outcome was observed after co-ligation of TLR3 and Langerin on MoLCs. These findings may be relevant to improve strategy for tumor immunotherapy.