title: Lipopolysaccharide and double-stranded RNA up-regulate toll-like receptor 2 independently of myeloid differentiation factor 88.
abstract: Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a signaling receptor for a variety of microbial products, including bacterial lipoproteins and peptidoglycan, and is central in initiating immune responses toward Gram-positive bacteria, spirochetes, and mycobacteria. The mechanisms behind regulation of TLR2 protein expression are still not well understood. By using a newly developed monoclonal antibody against mouse TLR2, we detected TLR2 protein expression on macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. Endogenous macrophage TLR2 localized mostly to the cell membrane, with particular accumulation around phagosomes containing zymosan. Treatment of macrophages with the TLR2 antibody diminished cellular response to lipoproteins and down-regulated membrane TLR2. Marked up-regulation of surface TLR2 was observed on macrophages in response to whole bacteria, lipoproteins, lipopolysaccharide, poly(I-C) (double-stranded RNA), R848, and CpG DNA, and this up-regulation appeared to be a very sensitive marker for the presence of microbial products. Up-regulation of TLR2 in response to stimuli correlated with an increased response to secondary lipoprotein exposure following a low concentration of primary lipoprotein challenge. By comparison, exposure to a larger primary challenge induced a hyporeactive state. Most interestingly, lipopolysaccharide- and double-stranded RNA-induced up-regulation of surface TLR2 in macrophages was found to be MyD88-independent, whereas the up-regulation in response to lipoproteins, R848, and CpG DNA was absent in MyD88-deficient cells. We conclude that complex mechanisms regulate expression and signaling via TLR2. Up-regulation of TLR2 in the presence of low, yet clinically relevant amounts of microbial products may be an important mechanism by which the immune system boosts its response to a beginning infection.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Institute of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Olav Kyrres gt. 3, N-7489 Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Nadra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.forename: Unni
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Nonstad
authors.forename: Naseema
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Cathrine F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Knetter
authors.forename: Shizuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akira
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sundan
authors.forename: Terje
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Espevik
authors.forename: Egil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lien
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000378:metabolism*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008024:Ligands; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism*; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D008024:Ligands; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; C507780:Myd88 protein, mouse; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors