title: Toll-like receptor 2 mediates cellular activation by the B subunits of type II heat-labile enterotoxins.
abstract: The type II heat-labile enterotoxins (LT-IIa and LT-IIb) of Escherichia coli have an AB5 subunit structure similar to that of cholera toxin (CT) and other type I enterotoxins, despite significant differences in the amino acid sequences of their B subunits and different ganglioside receptor specificities. LT-II holotoxins and their nontoxic B subunits display unique properties as immunological adjuvants distinct from those of CT and its B subunits. In contrast to type II holotoxins, the corresponding pentameric B subunits, LT-IIaB and LT-IIbB, stimulated cytokine release in both human and mouse cells dependent upon Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). Induction of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, IL-8, or tumor necrosis factor alpha in human THP-1 cells by LT-IIaB or LT-IIbB was inhibited by anti-TLR2 but not by anti-TLR4 antibody. Furthermore, transient expression of TLR1 and TLR2 in human embryonic kidney 293 cells resulted in activation of a nuclear factor-kappaB-dependent luciferase gene in response to LT-IIaB or LT-IIbB. Moreover, peritoneal macrophages from TLR2-deficient mice failed to respond to LT-IIaB or LT-IIbB, in contrast to wild-type or TLR4-deficient cells. These results demonstrate that besides their established binding to gangliosides, the B subunits of type II enterotoxins also interact with TLR2. Although a ganglioside-nonbinding mutant (T34I) of LT-IIaB effectively induced cytokine release, a phenotypically similar point mutation (T13I) in LT-IIbB abrogated cytokine induction, suggesting a variable requirement for gangliosides as coreceptors in TLR2 agonist activity. TLR2-dependent activation of mononuclear cells by type II enterotoxin B subunits appears to be a novel mechanism whereby these molecules may exert their immunomodulatory and adjuvant activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Louisiana State University, Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA. ghajis@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hajishengallis
authors.forename: Richard I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Tapping
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Hesham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nawar
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lyle
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Terry D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Connell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D051194:Toll-Like Receptor 1; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D016207:Cytokines; D004768:Enterotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051194:Toll-Like Receptor 1; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; C027538:heat-labile enterotoxin, E coli
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