Role for MyD88, TLR2 and TLR9 but not TLR1, TLR4 or TLR6 in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Innate immune activation in the pathogenesis of a murine model of globoid cell leukodystrophy

Globoid cell leukodystrophy is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by the loss of galactocerebrosidase. Galactocerebrosidase loss leads to the accumulation of psychosine and subsequent oligodendrocyte cell death, demyelination, macrophage recruitment, and astroglial activation and proliferation. To date, no studies have elucidated the mechanism of glial cell activation and cytokine and chemokine up-regulation and release. We explored a novel explanation for the development of the pathological changes in the early stages of globoid cell leukodystrophy associated with toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 up-regulation in the hindbrain and cerebellum as a response to dying oligodendrocytes. TLR2 up-regulation on microglia/macrophages coincided with morphological changes consistent with activation at 2 and 3 weeks of age. TLR2 up-regulation on activated microglia/macrophages resulted in astrocyte activation and marked up-regulation of cytokines/chemokines. Because oligodendrocyte cell death is an important feature of globoid cell leukodystrophy, we tested the ability of TLR2 reporter cells to respond to oligodendrocyte cell death. These reporter cells responded in vitro to medium conditioned by psychosine-treated oligodendrocytes, indicating the likelihood that oligodendrocytes release a TLR2 ligand during apoptosis. TLRs are a member of the innate immune system and initiate immune and inflammatory events; therefore, the identification of TLR2 as a potential driver in the activation of central nervous system glial activity in globoid cell leukodystrophy may provide important insight into its pathogenesis.

Toll-like receptor 3 differently modulates inflammation in progressive or benign multiple sclerosis

TLR-dependent signal transduction pathways were analyzed in patients with a diagnosis of either relapsing-remitting (RRMS), secondary progressive (PMS) or benign (BMS) MS and healthy controls (HC). Prototypical TLR molecules expressed either on the cell surface (TLR4) or intracellularly (TLR3) were stimulated with specific antigens (LPS and poly I:C, respectively). Expression of factors involved in TLR signaling cascades, production of downstream immune mediators and TLR expression were evaluated. Results showed that, whereas LPS-stimulation of TLR4 had a marginal effect on cell activation, poly I:C-stimulated TLR3 expression on immune cells was significantly increased in PMS and BMS compared to HC. This was associated with a higher responsiveness to poly I:C that resulted in the activation of the TLR3-mediated pathway and the production of inflammatory cytokines in PMS and, in contrast, in the up-regulation of a peculiar mosaic of inflammation-dampening genes in BMS. Results herein might explain different MS disease phenotypes.

TLR2 & Co: a critical analysis of the complex interactions between TLR2 and coreceptors

TLRs play a major role in microbe-host interactions and innate immunity. Of the 10 functional TLRs described in humans, TLR2 is unique in its requirement to form heterodimers with TLR1 or TLR6 for the initiation of signaling and cellular activation. The ligand specificity of TLR2 heterodimers has been studied extensively, using specific bacterial and synthetic lipoproteins to gain insight into the structure-function relationship, the minimal active motifs, and the critical dependence on TLR1 or TLR6 for activation. Different from that for specific well-defined TLR2 agonists, recognition of more complex ligands like intact microbes or molecules from endogenous origin requires TLR2 to interact with additional coreceptors. A breadth of data has been published on ligand-induced interactions of TLR2 with additional pattern recognition receptors such as CD14, scavenger receptors, integrins, and a range of other receptors, all of them important factors in TLR2 function. This review summarizes the roles of TLR2 in vivo and in specific immune cell types and integrates this information with a detailed review of our current understanding of the roles of specific coreceptors and ligands in regulating TLR2 functions. Understanding how these processes affect intracellular signaling and drive functional immune responses will lead to a better understanding of host-microbe interactions and will aid in the design of new agents to target TLR2 function in health and disease.

Nucleic acid scavenging polymers inhibit extracellular DNA-mediated innate immune activation without inhibiting anti-viral responses

Toll-like receptor (TLR) family members, 3, 7 and 9 are key components in initiation and progression of autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These TLRs are often referred to as nucleic acid-sensing TLRs based on their ability to recognize DNAs or RNAs produced by pathogens or damaged cells. During autoimmune disease progression these receptors recognize self nucleic acids as well as self nucleic acid-containing complexes and contribute to inflammatory cytokine production and subsequent enhancement of serum autoantibody levels. We have recently discovered that nucleic-acid scavenging polymers (NASPs) can neutralize the proinflammatory effects of nucleic acids. Here, we begin to explore what effects such NASPs have on normal immune function. We show that such NASPs can inhibit TLR activation without affecting nucleic acid-independent T cell activation. Moreover, we observe that stimulation of immune cells by encapsulated nucleic acids, such as those found in viral particles, is unaffected by NASPs. Thus NASPs only limit the activation of the immune system by accessible extra-cellular nucleic acid and do not engender non-specific immune suppression. These important findings suggest that NASPs represent a new approach toward anti-inflammatory drug development as these agents can potentially be utilized to block overt autoimmune disorders and inflammation while allowing normal immune responses to occur.

Mechanisms of CpG-induced CD40 expression on murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells

Aberrant CD40 expression by dendritic cells (DCs), induced by microbial stimuli, such as CpG, contributes to the pathogenesis of many human/murine diseases, particularly autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Given the importance of CD40 in these diseases, and the contribution of DCs to the diseases process, it is very important to investigate the mechanisms of CD40 expression induced by CpG on DCs. In this study, we made the observation that CpG-B is a potent inducer on CD40 expression on murine bone marrow-derived DCs. Based on this finding, we undertook an analysis of the molecular basis of CpG-induced CD40 expression on DCs. By using selective inhibitors, it was demonstrated that MAPKs (JNK and p38 MAPK but not ERK) and NF-κB were involved in CpG-induced CD40 expression on DCs. In addition, RNA interference analysis revealed that IRF8 was a key transcription factor in the basal expression of CD40 upon CpG stimulation. Moreover, up-regulating miRNA-146a in DCs effectively decreased CD40 expression by targeting TRAF6 and IRAK1. Thus, our results have elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying CpG-induced CD40 expression and DC maturation.

Toll-like receptors promote inflammation in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

The roles of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their myeloid differentiation response gene 88 (MyD88)-dependent and MyD88-independent signaling cascade particularly with regard to the pathogenesis and regulation of immune responses in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are unclear. We investigated these pathways in muscle biopsies from 5 cases each of polymyositis, inclusion body myositis, dermatomyositis, vasculitis-associated interstitial myositis, and noninflammatory neurogenic atrophy. Toll-like receptor 2, TLR4, TLR9, and MyD88 mRNA transcripts and protein expression were increased in all subtypes of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. Upregulation of MyD88 was associated with increased mRNA levels of interferon-γ, interleukin 12p40, and interleukin 17, suggesting NF-κB activation via the MyD88-dependent pathway in early stages. The costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 were expressed on inflammatory infiltrates in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and may additionally contribute to activation of the MyD88-independent pathway, leading to nuclear factor-κB activation in late stages. Our data suggest that nuclear factor-κB activation via both the MyD88-dependent and the MyD88-independent pathways contributes to the proinflammatory milieu in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

Toll-like receptor 4 on islet β cells senses expression changes in high-mobility group box 1 and contributes to the initiation of type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is caused by the autoimmune destruction of β cells within the islets. In recent years, innate immunity has been proposed to play a key role in this process. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), an inflammatory trigger in a number of autoimmune diseases, activates proinflammatory responses following its release from necrotic cells. Our aim was to determine the significance of HMGB1 in the natural history of diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. We observed that the rate of HMGB1 expression in the cytoplasm of islets was much greater in diabetic mice compared with non-diabetic mice. The majority of cells positively stained for toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were β cells; few α cells were stained for TLR4. Thus, we examined the effects of anti-TLR4 antibodies on HMGB1 cell surface binding, which confirmed that HMGB1 interacts with TLR4 in isolated islets. Expression changes in HMGB1 and TLR4 were detected throughout the course of diabetes. Our findings indicate that TLR4 is the main receptor on β cells and that HMGB1 may signal via TLR4 to selectively damage β cells rather than α cells during the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Enhancement of antibody-induced arthritis via Toll-like receptor 2 stimulation is regulated by granulocyte reactive oxygen species

The suppressive role of phagocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX2) complex-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) in adaptive immunity-driven arthritis models is well established. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of NOX2 complex-derived ROS in a model of innate immunity-driven arthritis and to identify the ROS-regulated innate receptors that control arthritis. We used collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA), which is a T and B lymphocyte-independent model of the effector phase of arthritis and is induced by well-defined monoclonal arthritogenic antibodies and enhanced by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). CAIA was induced in both wild-type and Ncf1 mutant mice that lack phagocyte oxidative burst, and stimulated with LPS and other agents to activate innate immune responses. We found that both LPS and lipomannan enhanced CAIA more potently in the presence of functional phagocyte ROS production than in its absence. The ROS-dependent enhancement of CAIA was regulated by TLR2, but not by TLR4 stimulation, and was driven by granulocytes, whereas macrophages did not contribute to the phenotype. In addition, we report that collagen-induced arthritis was not affected by the functionality of the TLR4. We report that TLR2 signaling as an important ROS-regulated proinflammatory pathway leads to severe neutrophil-dependent inflammation in murine CAIA and conclude that the TLR2 pathway is modulated by phagocyte ROS to stimulate the development of arthritis.

Toll-like receptor (TLR) and inflammasome actions in the central nervous system

During the past 10 years, much attention has been focused towards elucidating the impact of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in central nervous system (CNS) innate immunity. TLR signaling triggers the transcriptional activation of pro-interleukin-1β (pro-IL-1β) and pro-IL-18 that are processed into their active forms by the inflammasome. Recent studies have demonstrated inflammasome involvement during CNS infection, autoimmune disease, and injury. This review will address inflammasome actions within the CNS and how cooperation between TLR and inflammasome signaling may influence disease outcome. In addition, the concept of alternative inflammasome functions independent of IL-1 and IL-18 processing are considered in the context of CNS disease.

Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein 2A exacerbates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and enhances antigen presentation function

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. The cause of MS is still unknown but epidemiological and immunological studies have implicated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which infects B cells, as a possible etiological agent involved in disease. Of particular interest is EBV latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) because previous studies have demonstrated that LMP2A enhances the expansion and differentiation of B cells upon antigen stimulation, revealing a potential contribution of this protein in autoimmunity. Since B cells are thought to contribute to MS, we examined the role of LMP2A in the animal model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In this model, transgenic mice in which B cells express LMP2A show increased severity and incidence of disease. This difference was not due to lymphocyte recruitment into the CNS or differences in T cell activation, rather, we show that LMP2A enhances antigen presentation function.