Human serum mannose-binding lectin senses wall teichoic acid Glycopolymer of Staphylococcus aureus, which is restricted in infancy.
Innate immunity is the first line of host defense against invading pathogens, and it is recognized by a variety of pattern recognition molecules, including mannose-binding lectin (MBL). MBL binds to mannose and N-acetylglucosamine residues present on the glycopolymers of microorganisms. Human serum MBL functions as an opsonin and activates the lectin complement pathway. However, which glycopolymer of microorganism is recognized by MBL is still uncertain. Here, we show that wall teichoic acid of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterial cell surface glycopolymer containing N-acetylglucosamine residue, is a functional ligand of MBL. Whereas serum MBL in adults did not bind to wall teichoic acid because of an inhibitory effect of anti-wall teichoic acid antibodies, MBL in infants who had not yet fully developed their adaptive immunity could bind to S. aureus wall teichoic acid and then induced complement C4 deposition. Our data explain the molecular reasons of why MBL-deficient infants are susceptible to S. aureus infection.
Park
Keun-Hwa
KH
National Research Laboratory of Defense Proteins, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea.
Kurokawa
Kenji
K
National Research Laboratory of Defense Proteins, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea.
Zheng
Lili
L
National Research Laboratory of Defense Proteins, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea.
Jung
Dong-Jun
DJ
National Research Laboratory of Defense Proteins, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea.
Tateishi
Koichiro
K
Department of Applied Biochemistry, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan.
Jin
Jun-O
JO
Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan 602-714, Korea.
Ha
Nam-Chul
NC
National Research Laboratory of Defense Proteins, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea.
Kang
Hee Jung
HJ
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang-si 431-070, Korea.
Matsushita
Misao
M
Department of Applied Biochemistry, Tokai University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1292, Japan.
Kwak
Jong-Young
JY
Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan 602-714, Korea.
Takahashi
Kazue
K
Programs of Developmental Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114.
Lee
Bok Luel
BL
National Research Laboratory of Defense Proteins, College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea. Electronic address: brlee@pusan.ac.kr.
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D016466:CHO Cells; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D037582:Complement Pathway, Mannose-Binding Lectin; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008358:Mannose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000172:deficiency / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D003181:Complement C4; D037601:Mannose-Binding Lectin; D013682:Teichoic Acids; D008358:Mannose