Macrophage-activating Lipopeptide-2 Research Articles

Suppression of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression induced by Toll-like receptor agonists by (E)-1-(2-(2-nitrovinyl)phenyl)pyrrolidine

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize many pathogen-associated molecular patterns and induce innate immunity. TLR signaling pathways induce the activation of various transcription factors, such as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), leading to the induction of pro-inflammatory gene products, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Here, we investigated the effect of an (E)-1-(2-(2-nitrovinyl)phenyl)pyrrolidine (NVPP), previously synthesized in our laboratory, on inflammation by modulating NF-κB activation and iNOS expression induced by TLR agonists in murine macrophages. NVPP suppressed NF-κB activation and iNOS expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (TLR4 agonist), polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (TLR3 agonist), and macrophage-activating lipopeptide 2kDa (TLR2 and TLR6 agonist). All the results suggest that NVPP is suitable for development as a new anti-inflammatory drug.

Carpesium abrotanoides extract inhibits cyclooxygenase-2 expression induced by toll-like receptor agonists

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a group of pattern-recognition receptors that play an important role in the induction of innate immune responses, recognizing conserved microbial structural molecules. The microbial pathogens trigger the activation of myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88)- and toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-β (TRIF)-dependent pathways, leading to proinflammatory cytokine production. Here, we investigated the effect of the ethanol extracts of Carpesium abrotanoides (CAB), a traditional Korean medicine, on the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by TLR agonists in murine macrophages. CAB suppressed COX-2 expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (TLR4 agonist), polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (TLR3 agonist), and macrophage-activating lipopeptide 2-kDa (TLR2 and TLR6 agonist). These results suggest that CAB can regulate the TLR signaling pathways to treat chronic inflammatory diseases.

Mycoplasma fermentans MALP-2 induces heme oxygenase-1 expression via mitogen-activated protein kinases and Nrf2 pathways to modulate cyclooxygenase 2 expression in human monocytes.

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress-inducible rate-limiting enzyme in heme degradation that confers cytoprotection against oxidative injury and performs a vital function in the maintenance of cell hemostasis. Increasing numbers of reports have indicated that mycoplasma-derived membrane lipoproteins/lipopeptides, such as macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 (MALP-2), function as agents that stimulate the immune system by producing various inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), which play roles in the pathogenesis of inflammatory responses during mycoplasma infection. Here, we report that MALP-2 induced HO-1 mRNA and protein expression and upregulated HO-1 enzyme activity in THP-1 cells. Specific inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), SB203580, PD98059, and SP600125, significantly abolished HO-1 expression. In addition, MALP-2 also induced NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) translocation, and the silencing of Nrf2 expression in THP-1 cells decreased the levels of MALP-2-mediated HO-1 expression. Furthermore, COX-2 protein expression levels were upregulated in THP-1 cells in response to MALP-2, and transfection with small interfering RNAs of HO-1 significantly increased COX-2 accumulation. These results demonstrate that MALP-2 induces HO-1 expression via MAPKs and Nrf2 pathways and, furthermore, that MALP-2-induced COX-2 expression was modulated by HO-1 in THP-1 cells.

Triptolide inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase expression induced by toll-like receptor agonists

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in the induction of innate immune responses recognizing many pathogen-associated molecular patterns. The activation of TLRs triggers two downstream signaling pathways; MyD88- (myeloid differential factor 88) and TRIF-(toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-β) dependent pathways leading to the induction of pro-inflammatory gene products such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The present study investigated the effect of triptolide (TP), a natural component of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F, on inflammation by modulating iNOS expression induced by TLR agonists in murine macrophages. TP suppressed iNOS expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (TLR4 agonist), polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (TLR3 agonist), and macrophage-activating lipopeptide 2-kDa (TLR2 and TLR6 agonist). All the results suggest that TP can modulate TLR signaling pathways and subsequent chronic inflammatory responses.

Homeostatic properties of Lactobacillus jensenii engineered as a live vaginal anti-HIV microbicide

BackgroundVaginal probiotics are investigated as a binary strategy for prevention of bacterial vaginosis and HIV. We applied an innovative experimental model using primary and immortalized human cervical and vaginal epithelial cells to assess the functional properties of Lactobacillus jensenii, a predominant constituent of the healthy vaginal microbiome, engineered to express the HIV-1 entry inhibitor modified cyanovirin-N (mCV-N). In this model bacteria colonize the epithelial cells over a period of 24-72 h. Staurosporine and the Toll-like receptor 2/6 ligand macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 (MALP-2) serve as positive controls for apoptosis and proinflammatory activation, respectively. In 24-hour intervals, the colonized epithelium is assessed microscopically, supernatants are collected for measurement of soluble immunoinflammatory mediators and production of CV-N, and cells are lysed for assessment of: 1) apoptosis by cleaved versus total caspase-3 assay; 2) NF-κB activation by a luciferase reporter assay; or 3) epithelia-associated colony forming units (CFU) in Brucella agar.ResultsWild type (WT) L. jensenii 1153 consistently colonized cervical and vaginal cells in the absence of epithelial damage and apoptosis. The bioengineered derivatives expressing mCV-N or control plasmids showed the same stable colonization pattern, which was reproducible between technologists and bacterial batches (CFU coefficient of variation <10% within and between experiments and epithelial cell types). MALP-2 activated NF-κB and caused fold-increased levels of proinflammatory mediators with clinically established significance in the cervicovaginal environment (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, RANTES, MIP-3α, and ICAM-1), measured by a multiplex electrochemiluminescence assay. At the same time levels of protective anti-inflammatory mediators interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), both measured by ELISA, remained constant (IL-1RA) or moderately increased (SLPI). Similarly to MALP-2, colonization by L. jensenii WT activated NF-κB; however, unlike the synthetic TLR2/6 ligand, the live microorganisms did not induce significant changes in the secreted levels across all inflammation-associated proteins. The mCV-N production and function were confirmed by western blot and a HIV-1 gp120 binding assay, respectively. The bioengineered lactobacilli expressed mCV-N with anti-HIV activity preserved in the epithelial cell context and caused no significant immunoinflammatory changes as compared to the WT L. jensenii.ConclusionsThese results highlight the translational value of the colonization model and justify further clinical investigation of the homeostatic and anti-HIV effectiveness of the L. jensenii derivates.

Isobavachalcone suppresses expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase induced by Toll-like receptor agonists

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role by recognizing many pathogen-associated molecular patterns and inducing innate immunity. Dysregulated activation of TLR signaling pathways induces the activation of various transcription factors such as nuclear factor-κB, leading to the induction of pro-inflammatory gene products such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The present study investigated the effect of isobavachalcone (IBC), a natural chalcone component of Angelica keiskei, on inflammation by modulating iNOS expression induced by TLR agonists in murine macrophages. IBC suppressed iNOS expression induced by macrophage-activating lipopeptide 2-kDa, polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid, or lipopolysaccharide. These results indicate the potential of IBC as a potent anti-inflammatory drug.

Suppression of TRIF-dependent signaling pathway of toll-like receptors by allyl isothiocyanate in RAW 264.7 macrophages

Toll-like receptors (TLR) play a significant role in the induction of innate immune responses that are essential for host defense against invading microbial pathogens. In general, TLRs have two major downstream signaling pathways: myeloid differential factor 88 (MyD88)-dependent and toll-interleukin-1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-β (TRIF)-dependent pathways. Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) found in cruciferous vegetables has an effect on treatment of many chronic diseases. However, the exact molecular targets of AITC are still unidentified. Here, it was investigated whether AITC can modulate TLR signaling pathways and what is the molecular target of AITC in TLRs signaling pathways. AITC suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-κB by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly[I:C]), but not by macrophage-activating lipopeptide of 2kDa (MALP-2) or cytosine-phosphate-guanine dinucleotide (CpG DNA). AITC also suppressed the activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and the expression of interferon inducible protein-10 (IP-10) induced by LPS or poly[I:C]. These results suggest that AITC can modulate TRIF-dependent signaling pathways of TLRs leading to decreased inflammatory gene expression.

Phenethyl Isothiocyanate가 Toll-like Receptor Agonists에 의해 유도된 Nuclear Factor-κB 활성과 Cyclooxygenase-2, Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase 발현에 미치는 효과

염증의 중요한 분자학적 기전에는 cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)에 의한 prostaglandins (PGs) 생성과 inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)에 의한 nitric oxide (NO) 생성이 있다. 많은 종류의 박테리아나 바이러스가 전사요소인 nuclear factor-<TEX>${\kappa}$</TEX>B(NF-<TEX>${\kappa}$</TEX>B)를 활성화시켜 여러 타깃 유전자의 발현을 조절해 PGs나 NO와 같은 염증물질을 유도하게 된다. 우리는 이번 실험을 통하여 phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC)가 toll-like receptor(TLR) agonists에 의해 유도된 NF-<TEX>${\kappa}$</TEX>B활성과 COX-2, iNOS 발현에 어떠한 영향을 미치는지 알아 보았다. PEITC는 lipopolysaccharide (LPS)와 polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly[I:C])에 의해 유도된 NF-<TEX>${\kappa}$</TEX>B활성을 억제시켰다. 또한 PEITC는 LPS와 Poly[I:C]에 의해 유도된 iNOS의 발현도 억제시켰다. 하지만 PEITC는 TLR agonists들인 LPS, Poly[I:C], 2 kDa macrophage-activating lipopeptide (MALP-2), oligodeoxynucleotide 1668 (ODN1668)에 의한 COX-2 발현은 억제시키지 못하였다. 즉 PEITC가 TRIF-dependent 신호전달체계만을 조절하여 TRIF-dependent 신호전달체계에 의해 조절되는 iNOS는 억제하지만 MyD88-dependent 신호전달 체계에 의해 조절되는 COX-2는 억제하지 못한다는 것을 설명해준다. 이러한 결과는 iNOS와 COX-2가 서로 다른 메커니즘에 의해 조절된다는 것을 암시하며, PEITC가 여러 병원균들로부터 유도되는 염증반응이나 만성적인 질병들을 조절할 수 있음을 제시하는 중요한 결과이다. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in induction of innate immune responses. The activation of TLRs triggers inflammatory responses that are essential for host defense against invading pathogens. Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) extracted from cruciferous vegetables has an effect on anti-inflammatory therapy. Dysregulated activation of nuclear factor-<TEX>${\kappa}$</TEX>B (NF-<TEX>${\kappa}$</TEX>B), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been shown to play important roles in the development of certain inflammatory disease. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of PEITC, NF-<TEX>${\kappa}$</TEX>B activation and COX-2 and iNOS expression induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, TLR4 agonist), polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly[I:C], TLR3 agonist), 2 kDa macrophageactivating lipopeptide (MALP-2, TLR2 and TLR6 agonist) or oligodeoxynucleotide 1668 (ODN1668, TLR9 agonist) were examined. PEITC inhibits the activation of NF-<TEX>${\kappa}$</TEX>B induced by LPS or Poly[I:C] but not by MALP-2 or ODN1668. PEITC also suppressed the iNOS expression induced by LPS or Poly[I:C]. However, PEITC did not suppress COX-2 expression induced by LPS, Poly[I:C], MALP-2, or ODN1668. These results suggest that PEITC has the specific mechanism for antiinflammatory responses.

Stimulation of pulmonary immune responses by the TLR2/6 agonist MALP‐2 and effect on melanoma metastasis to the lung

Given that metastasized melanoma is a fatal disease in most cases, it is tempting to develop strategies to a priori prevent metastasis. We have stimulated the pulmonary innate immune system by macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 (MALP-2), a specific agonist at Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2/6, and investigated its impact on experimental melanoma metastasis. In C57BL/6 mice, intratracheal application of MALP-2 induced a profound influx of neutrophils and macrophages into the lung, which peaked after 24 h (sixfold increase) and returned to baseline within 72 h. Further analysis revealed that MALP-2 also markedly induced VCAM-1 expression on pulmonary blood vessels. In vitro experiments demonstrated that this adhesion molecule mediates binding of B16F10 melanoma cells. Furthermore, in vivo or in vitro treatment with MALP-2 did not significantly affect the ability of immune cells to lyse melanoma cells. As a consequence, notwithstanding the profound pulmonary immune response induction and in contrast to conclusions drawn from some previous publications, the net extent of experimental metastasis did not change significantly, regardless of the application regimen of MALP-2 prior to, concomitant with or after tumor cell inoculation. Melanoma cells stably transfected with green fluorescent protein allowed tracking of early events after tumor cell dissemination and showed that MALP-2-mediated TLR2/6 activation did not interfere with pulmonary melanoma cell arrest. Likewise, boosting the immune induction after establishment of metastases did not change the clinical outcome. These unexpected results vividly counsel caution regarding predictions of immunomodulating therapies, as multiple intertwined effects may influence the net outcome.

Fever induction by systemic stimulation with macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 depends upon TLR2 but not CD36

This study was designed to test the responses of TLR2-knockout mice (TLR2-KO) and wild- type mice (C57/BL-6), and of CD36 deficient spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their genetic controls [Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats] to systemic stimulations with the TLR2/6 agonist MALP-2 and the TLR4 agonist LPS. Fever and formation of TNF-α and IL-6 induced by intraperitoneal injections of MALP-2 (1000 µg/kg) were completely blunted in TLR2-KO, while LPS (100 µg/kg)-induced responses were not abolished in these animals. In SHR lacking CD36, a reduction of fever was observed in response to MALP-2 (100 µg/kg), but LPS-fever was even more attenuated in SHR when compared with WKY controls. Concentrations of circulating IL-6 tended to be lower in SHR after stimulation with both pyrogens. However, the IL-6-mediated activation of the transcription factor STAT3 in the brain was identical in both strains, indicating that the brain-controlled inflammatory response to MALP-2 (and LPS) is not impaired in the absence of CD36. In addition, stimulation of peritoneal macrophages with LPS and MALP-2 (10 µg/ml) caused the appearance of similar concentrations of bioactive cytokines in the supernatants from cells of both rat strains. These results demonstrate that TLR2 is essential for the manifestation of MALP-2, but not LPS-induced inflammatory responses. A moderate participation of CD36 in MALP-2-induced sickness- and cytokine-responses can not be ruled out but is unlikely as LPS-induced inflammatory responses were also attenuated in SHR.

Immunomodulation in Polytrauma and Polymicrobial Sepsis - Where Do We Stand?

Due to improved treatment strategies mortality in multiple trauma patients has been decreased over the last decades. However, posttraumatic complications like sepsis and subsequent multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) remain a major problem on intensive care units following major trauma. The clinical course after multiple trauma depends on the balance or imbalance of the pro- and anti-inflammatory immune response. The predominance of the proinflammatory response leads to the "Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome" (SIRS), whereas the "Compensatory Anti-inflammatory Response Syndrome" (CARS) might result in immune suppression with an enhanced risk for infectious complications. Both, SIRS and CARS, play a pivotal role in the development of sepsis and the "Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome" (MODS). A gender dimorphism in the host response after multiple trauma and sepsis has already been described. In experimental as well as clinical studies, a protective effect of female sex hormones and precursors like androstenediol has been revealed. Moreover, blockade of androgen receptors and the inhibition of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) synthesis were shown to provide beneficial effects on the immune response. Beside sex hormones, modulation of the Toll Like Receptor (TLR) pathway by macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 (MALP-2) has sufficiently been described. Furthermore, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and substance P have recently been revealed important for proinflammatory action in animal models of inflammation. Thus, these agents might be potential candidates for new treatment strategies in septic patients in order to improve the still unsatisfactory outcome of multiple trauma patients. If applicable, patents of each described agent are provided within the text.

Failure of mycoplasma lipoprotein MALP-2 to induce NK cell activation through dendritic cell TLR2

Macrophage-activating lipopeptide 2 (MALP-2), a mycoplasmal diacylated lipopeptide with palmitic acid moiety (Pam2), activates Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 to induce inflammatory cytokines. TLR2 is known to mature myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) to drive mDC contact-mediated natural killer (NK) cell activation. Here we tested if MALP-2 activates NK cells through stimulation of TLR2 on mDC. Although synthetic MALP-2 with 6 or 14 amino acids (a.a.) stretch (designated as s and f) matured mDC to induce IL-6, IL-12p40 and TNF-α to a similar extent, they far less activated NK cells than Pam2CSK4, a positive control of 6 a.a.-containing diacyl lipopeptide. MALP-2s and f were TLR2/6 agonists and activate the MyD88 pathway similar to Pam2CSK4, but MALP-2s having the CGNNDE sequence acted on mDC TLR2 to barely induce external NK activation. Even the s form, with slightly high induction of IL-6 compared to the f form, barely induced in vivo growth retardation of NK-sensitive implant tumor. Pam2CSK4 and MALP-2 have the common lipid moiety but different peptides, which are crucial for NK cell activation. The results infer that MALP-2 is applicable to a cytokine inducer but not to an adjuvant for antitumor NK immunotherapy.

Cyclooxygenase-2 Enhances Antimicrobial Peptide Expression and Killing of Staphylococcus aureus

Antimicrobial peptides such as human β-defensins (hBDs) and cathelicidins are critical for protection against infection and can be induced by activation of TLRs, a pathway that also activates cyclooxygenase(Cox)-2 expression. We hypothesized that Cox-2 is induced by TLR activation and is necessary for optimal AMP production, and that inhibitors of Cox-2 may therefore inhibit antimicrobial action. Normal human keratinocytes (NHEKs) stimulated with a TLR2/6 ligand, macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2, or a TLR3 ligand, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, increased Cox-2 mRNA and protein and increased PGE(2), a product of Cox-2. Treatment with a Cox-2 selective inhibitor (SC-58125) or Cox-2 small interfering RNA attenuated hBD2 and hBD3 production in NHEKs when stimulated with macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid, or UVB (15 mJ/cm(2)), but it did not attenuate vitamin D3-induced cathelicidin. SC-58125 also inhibited TLR-dependent NF-κB activation. Conversely, treatment with Cox-derived prostanoids PGD(2) or 15-deoxy-Δ(12,14)-PGJ(2) induced hBD3 or hBD2 and hBD3, respectively. The functional significance of these observations was seen in NHEKs that showed reduced anti-staphylococcal activity when treated with a Cox-2 inhibitor. These findings demonstrate a critical role for Cox-2 in hBD production and suggest that the use of Cox-2 inhibitors may adversely influence the risk for bacterial infection.

Identification of Novel Synthetic Toll-like Receptor 2 Agonists by High Throughput Screening

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a central role in host defense by inducing inflammatory and adaptive immune responses following infection. Drugs that target TLRs are of considerable interest as potential inflammatory regulators, vaccine adjuvants, and novel immunotherapeutics. TLR2, in cooperation with either TLR1 or TLR6, mediates responses to a wide variety of microbial products as well as products of host tissue damage. In an effort to understand the structural basis of TLR2 recognition and uncover novel TLR2 agonists, a synthetic chemical library of 24,000 compounds was screened using an IL-8-driven luciferase reporter in cells expressing these human receptors. The screening yielded several novel TLR2-dependent activators that utilize TLR1, TLR6, or both as co-receptors. These novel small molecule compounds are aromatic in nature and structurally unrelated to any known TLR2 agonists. The three most potent compounds do not exhibit synergistic activity, nor do they act as pseudoantagonists toward natural TLR2 activators. Interestingly, two of the compounds exhibit species specificity and are inactive toward murine peritoneal macrophages. Mutational analysis reveals that although the central extracellular region of TLR1 is required for stimulation, there are subtle differences in the mechanism of stimulation mediated by the synthetic compounds in comparison with natural lipoprotein agonists. The three most potent compounds activate cells in the nanomolar range and stimulate cytokine production from human peripheral blood monocytes. Our results confirm the utility of high throughput screens to uncover novel synthetic TLR2 agonists that may be of therapeutic benefit.

Multiple protein kinase pathways mediate amplified IL-6 release by human lung fibroblasts co-exposed to nickel and TLR-2 agonist, MALP-2

Microbial stimuli and atmospheric particulate matter (PM) interact to amplify the release of inflammatory and immune-modulating cytokines. The basis of this interaction, however, is not known. Cultured human lung fibroblasts (HLF) were used to determine whether various protein kinase pathways were involved in the release of IL-6 following combined exposure to the PM-derived metal, Ni, and M. fermentans-derived macrophage-activating lipopeptide 2 (MALP-2), a toll-like receptor 2 agonist. Synergistic release of IL-6 by MALP-2 and NiSO 4 was obvious after 8 h of co-stimulation and correlated with a late phase accumulation of IL-6 mRNA. Ni and MALP-2, alone or together, all led to rapid and transient phosphorylations of ERK 1/2 and JNK/SAPK of similar magnitude. p38 phosphorylation, however, was observed only after prolonged treatment of cells with both stimuli together. A constitutive level of PI3K-dependent Akt phosphorylation remained unchanged by Ni and/or MALP-2 exposure. IL-6 induced by Ni/MALP-2 co-exposure was partially dependent on activity of HIF-1α and COX-2 as shown by targeted knockdown using siRNA. IL-6 release in response to Ni/MALP-2 was partially sensitive to pharmacological inhibition of ERK 1/2, p38, and PI3K signaling. The protein kinase inhibitors had minimal or no effects on Ni/MALP-2-induced accumulation of HIF-1α protein, however, COX-2 expression and, more markedly PGE 2 production, were suppressed by LY294002, SB203580, and U0126. Thus, Ni/MALP-2 interactions involve multiple protein kinase pathways (ERK 1/2, p38, and PI3K) that modulate events downstream from the early accumulation of HIF-1α to promote IL-6 gene expression directly or secondarily, through COX-2-derived autocrine products like PGE 2.

Adjuvant engineering for cancer immunotherapy: Development of a synthetic TLR2 ligand with increased cell adhesion

The development of effective immunoadjuvants for tumor immunotherapy is of fundamental importance. The use of Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin cell wall skeleton (BCG-CWS) in tumor immunotherapy has been examined in various clinical applications. Because BCG-CWS is a macromolecule that cannot be chemically synthesized, the development of an alternative synthetic molecule is necessary to ensure a constant supply of adjuvant. In the present study, a new adjuvant was designed based on the structure of macrophage-activating lipopeptide (MALP)-2, which is a Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 ligand similar to BCG-CWS. Macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2, [S-(2,3-bispalmitoyloxypropyl)Cys (P2C) - GNNDESNISFKEK], originally identified in a Mycoplasma species, is a lipopeptide that can be chemically synthesized. A MALP-2 peptide was substituted with a functional motif, RGDS, creating a novel molecule named P2C-RGDS. RGDS was selected because its sequence constitutes an integrin-binding motif and various integrins are expressed in immune cells including dendritic cells (DCs). Thus, this motif adds functionality to the ligand. P2C-RGDS activated DCs and splenocytes more efficiently than MALP-2 over short incubation times in vitro, and the RGDS motif contributed to their activation. Furthermore, P2C-RGDS showed higher activity than MALP-2 in inducing migration of DCs to draining lymph node, and in inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. This process of designing and developing synthetic adjuvants has been named "adjuvant engineering," and the evaluation and improvement of P2C-RGDS constitutes a first step in the development of stronger synthetic adjuvants in the future.

MACROPHAGE-ACTIVATING LIPOPEPTIDE-2 EXERTS PROTECTIVE EFFECTS IN A MURINE SEPSIS MODEL

It is still a major problem to achieve successful therapy in polymicrobial sepsis. Stimulation of the innate immune system via Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 6 had beneficial effects on chronic inflammatory disorders and a severe peritonitis model when administered 4 days before induction. In the present study, the hypothesis whether the TLR-2 and TLR-6 pathway can also be used as a therapeutic agent parallel to sepsis induction and several hours after the induction was tested. Therefore, the TLR-2 and TLR-6 agonist macrophage-activating lipopeptide 2 (MALP-2) was applied simultaneous to cecal ligation and puncture-sepsis induction and 6 h thereafter. Vehicle-treated animals served as controls. Survival, activity, cytokine levels at different time points, and pulmonary neutrophil infiltration were determined. Improved survival was found after both MALP-2 treatments in comparison with untreated controls. The treatment resulted in reduced monocyte chemotactic protein 1 levels in the plasma; furthermore, pulmonary infiltration by neutrophils was decreased. These results demonstrate a beneficial effect of MALP-2 as a therapeutic agent in polymicrobial sepsis in the cecal ligation and puncture mouse model.

Peripheral and central cyclooxygenase (COX) products may contribute to the manifestation of brain-controlled sickness responses during localized inflammation induced by macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 (MALP-2)

We investigated whether an inflammation-dependent activation of the brain occurs in response to systemic intraperitoneal (i.p.) or local injections of macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 (MALP-2) into a subcutaneous (s.c.) air pouch, and whether local (peripheral) or central cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-dependent formations of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2) are involved in MALP-2-induced illness responses. Body temperature, activity, food and water intake were measured telemetrically. Local (s.c.) and circulating levels of PGE 2 were measured by an ELISA. Inflammatory activation of the brain in response to MALP-2 was determined by immunohistochemical detection of the transcription factors NFκB and STAT3 in cell nuclei as well as the appearance of COX-2 at the same sites. S.c. treatment with the preferential COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam attenuated, but not abolished fever induced by local injections of MALP-2 into the pouch. Local MALP-2-induced formation of PGE 2 was blunted by treatment with meloxicam. In the brain, i.p. stimulation with MALP-2-induced nuclear STAT3- and NFκB-translocation in the vasculature and the sensory circumventricular organs, which was accompanied by an increase in COX-2 immunoreactivity (IR) in endothelial cells. Local MALP-2-treatment induced a moderate STAT3 activation and a small but significant increase in COX-2 IR while no NFκB-activation could be observed in the brains of these animals. We demonstrated that the activation of the brain STAT3 (NFκB)-COX-2 singling cascade seems to be involved in the manifestation of brain-controlled illness symptoms induced by systemic and local inflammatory stimulation with MALP-2. The present data further suggest a contribution of peripherally produced PGE 2 to MALP-2-induced activation of brain sites implicated in fever.

Toll-like receptor 2/6 stimulation promotes angiogenesis via GM-CSF as a potential strategy for immune defense and tissue regeneration

AbstractToll-like receptors (TLRs) are known primarily as pathogen recognition receptors of the innate immunity, initiating inflammatory pathways to organize the immune defense. More recently, an involvement of TLRs in various physiologic and pathologic processes has been reported. Because many of these processes implicate angiogenesis, we here elucidated the role of a TLR2/6-dependent pathway on angiogenesis using the TLR2/6 agonist macrophage-activating lipopeptide of 2 kDa (MALP-2), a common bacterial lipopeptide. In vivo and in vitro Matrigel assays demonstrated that MALP-2 promoted angiogenesis in a TLR2/6-dependent manner. Moreover, MALP-2 induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration and a strong secretion of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). GM-CSF release in response to MALP-2 from isolated vascular segments was completely prevented when the endothelium was removed. MALP-2 containing Matrigel implants exhibited vascular structures as well as CD45+ cells. MALP-2 induced migration of leukocytes and likewise GM-CSF release, particularly from the monocyte population. Inhibition of GM-CSF by siRNA or antibodies suppressed MALP-2-induced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. These results clearly identified a TLR2/6-dependent induction of angiogenesis by the bacterial lipopeptide MALP-2, which is mediated by GM-CSF. This might represent a general mechanism to enhance or restore blood flow and recruit immune cells for pathogen defense and tissue regeneration.

Evolution of Recognition of Ligands from Gram-Positive Bacteria: Similarities and Differences in the TLR2-Mediated Response between Mammalian Vertebrates and Teleost Fish

We investigated the role of the TLR2 receptor in the recognition of ligands from Gram-positive bacteria in fish. Comparative sequence analysis showed a highly conserved Toll/IL-1 receptor domain. Although the leucine-rich repeat domain was less conserved, the position of the critical peptidoglycan (PGN)-binding residues in the leucine-rich repeat domain of carp TLR2 were conserved. Transfection of human embryonic kidney 293 cells with TLR2 corroborated the ability of carp TLR2 to bind the prototypical mammalian vertebrate TLR2 ligands lipoteichoic acid (LTA) and PGN from Staphylococcus aureus. The synthethic triacylated lipopeptide N-palmitoyl-S-(2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2RS)-propyl)-(R)-Cys-(S)-Ser-(S)-Lys(4) trihydrochloride (Pam(3)CSK(4)) but not the diacylated lipopeptide macrophage-activating lipopeptide-2 (MALP-2) also activated TLR2 transfected human cells. We identified clear differences between the mammalian vertebrates and carp TLR2-mediated response. The use of the same ligands on carp macrophages indicated that fish cells require high concentrations of ligands from Gram-positive bacteria (LTA, PGN) for activation and signal transduction, react less strongly (Pam(3)CSK(4)) or do not react at all (MALP-2). Overexpression of TLR2 in carp macrophages confirmed TLR2 reactivity of the response to LTA and PGN, low-responsiveness to Pam(3)CSK(4) and nonresponsiveness to MALP-2. A putative relation with the apparent absence of accessory proteins such as CD14 from the fish TLR2-containing receptor complex is discussed. Moreover, activation of carp macrophages by PGN resulted in increased TLR2 gene expression and enhanced TLR2 mRNA stability, MAPK-p38 phosphorylation and increased radical production. Finally, we could show that NADPH oxidase-derived radicals and MAPK-p38 activation cooperatively determine the level of PGN-induced TLR2 gene expression. We propose that the H(2)O(2)-MAPK-p38-dependent axis is crucial for regulation of TLR2 gene expression in fish macrophages.