The human TLR innate immune gene family is differentially influenced by DNA stress and p53 status in cancer cells.
The transcription factor p53 regulates genes associated with a wide range of functions, including the Toll-like receptor (TLR) set of innate immunity genes, suggesting that p53 also modulates the human immune response. The TLR family comprises membrane glycoproteins that recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) and mediate innate immune responses, and TLR agonists are being used as adjuvants in cancer treatments. Here, we show that doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, and UV and ionizing radiation elicit changes in TLR expression that are cell line- and damage-specific. Specifically, treatment-induced expression changes led to increased downstream cytokine expression in response to ligand stimulation. The effect of DNA stressors on TLR expression was mainly mediated by p53, and several p53 cancer-associated mutants dramatically altered the pattern of TLR gene expression. In all cell lines tested, TLR3 induction was p53-dependent, whereas induction of TLR9, the most stress-responsive family member, was less dependent on status of p53. In addition, each of the 10 members of the innate immune TLR gene family tested was differentially inducible. Our findings therefore show that the matrix of p53 status, chromosome stress, and responsiveness of individual TLRs should be considered in TLR-based cancer therapies.
Chromosome Stability Group, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA.
Maria
M
Shatz
Daniel
D
Menendez
Michael A
MA
Resnick
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004249:DNA Damage; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
D016207:Cytokines; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D004317:Doxorubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil