title: The apoptotic signaling pathway activated by Toll-like receptor-2.
abstract: The innate immune system uses Toll family receptors to signal for the presence of microbes and initiate host defense. Bacterial lipoproteins (BLPs), which are expressed by all bacteria, are potent activators of Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR2). Here we show that the adaptor molecule, myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), mediates both apoptosis and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation by BLP-stimulated TLR2. Inhibition of the NF-kappaB pathway downstream of MyD88 potentiates apoptosis, indicating that these two pathways bifurcate at the level of MyD88. TLR2 signals for apoptosis through MyD88 via a pathway involving Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) and caspase 8. Moreover, MyD88 binds FADD and is sufficient to induce apoptosis. These data indicate that TLR2 is a novel 'death receptor' that engages the apoptotic machinery without a conventional cytoplasmic death domain. Through TLR2, BLP induces the synthesis of the precursor of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). Interestingly, BLP also activates caspase 1 through TLR2, resulting in proteolysis and secretion of mature IL-1beta. These results indicate that caspase activation is an innate immune response to microbial pathogens, culminating in apoptosis and cytokine production.
authors.affiliation: Skirball Institute and Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, 540 First Avenue, New York, NY 1001, USA.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Aliprantis
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Godowski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zychlinsky
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C507779:MYD88 protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; C084083:Fad7 protein, Arabidopsis; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases; D020170:Caspase 1