title: Identification of an Immunomodulating Agent from Mycobacterium leprae.
abstract: A search for an immunomodulating agent from mycobacteria was carried out using Mycobacterium leprae. The antigenicity of each fraction of the bacterial membrane, which contains the most antigenic components of M. leprae, was assessed by using sera from paucibacillary leprosy. N-terminal sequencing of the serum-reactive protein and functional assessment of the membrane fractions using monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) identified major membrane protein II (MMP-II) as one of the efficient T-cell-activating candidates. Purified MMP-II stimulated DCs from healthy individuals to produce interleukin-12 p70 and up-regulated the surface expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and II, CD86, and CD83 molecules. Also, there was an increase in the percentage of CD83(+) cells in the DC population. Furthermore, MMP-II-pulsed DCs expressed their derivatives on their surfaces. Using Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2)-dependent receptor constructs, we found that TLR-2 signaling was involved in DC maturation induced by MMP-II. Taken together, MMP-II can be recognized as an immunomodulating protein in terms of activation of antigen-presenting cells and innate immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Leprosy Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 4-2-1 Aobacho, Higashimurayama, Tokyo 189-0002, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Tetsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mukai
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Makino
mesh_terms: D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C500901:major membrane protein II, Mycobacterium leprae