Bacterial amyloid curli acts as a carrier for DNA to elicit an autoimmune response via TLR2 and TLR9

Abstract

Abstract Bacterial biofilms are associated with numerous human infections. The predominant protein expressed in enteric biofilms is amyloid curli which forms immunogenic complexes with DNA. Infection with curli-expressing bacteria or systemic exposure to purified curli-DNA complexes triggers autoimmunity via the generation type I interferons (IFNs) and anti-double stranded (ds) DNA autoantibodies. DNA complexed with curli stimulates Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 through a two-step mechanism. First, the cross beta-sheet structure of curli is bound by cell-surface TLR2, enabling internalization of the complex into endosomes. After internalization, the curli-DNA immune complex binds strongly to TLR9, inducing production of type I IFNs. Upon stimulation of macrophages with curli-DNA complexes, only 5% of TLR2−/− macrophages harbored intracellular curli, suggesting that TLR2 drives the internalization of curli-DNA complexes. Suppression of TLR2 internalization led to a significant decrease in Ifnβ expression. Structural analysis using small-angle X-ray scattering revealed that incorporation of DNA into curli fibrils results in the formation of ordered curli-DNA immune complexes resulting in optimal spacing to TLR9. Production of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies and type I IFNS in response to curli-DNA fibers was attenuated in the TLR2−/−, TLR9 mutant, and TLR2−/− - TLR9 mutant mice compared to wildtype mice, suggesting that TLR2 and TLR9 are critical for the autoimmune immune response. Overall, our results identify a pivotal series of events that leads to the severe pro-autoimmune effects of amyloid-expressing bacteria.