Targeted deletion of MyD88 in intestinal epithelial cells results in compromised antibacterial immunity associated with downregulation of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, mucin-2, and antibacterial peptides.

Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) form a physical and immunological barrier that separates the vast gut microbiota from host tissues. MyD88-dependent Toll-like receptor signaling is a key mediator of microbial-host cross-talk. We examined the role of epithelial MyD88 expression by generating mice with an IEC-targeted deletion of the Myd88 gene (MyD88(ΔIEC)). Loss of epithelial MyD88 signaling resulted in increased numbers of mucus-associated bacteria; translocation of bacteria, including the opportunistic pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae, to mesenteric lymph nodes; reduced transmucosal electrical resistance; impaired mucus-associated antimicrobial activity; and downregulated expression of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (the epithelial IgA transporter), mucin-2 (the major protein of intestinal mucus), and the antimicrobial peptides RegIIIγ and Defa-rs1. We further observed significant differences in the composition of the gut microbiota between MyD88(ΔIEC) mice and wild-type littermates. These physical, immunological, and microbial defects resulted in increased susceptibility of MyD88(ΔIEC) mice to experimental colitis. We conclude that MyD88 signaling in IECs is crucial for maintenance of gut homeostasis.

Regulation of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor and IgA transport: new advances in environmental factors that stimulate pIgR expression and its role in mucosal immunity.

Secretory IgA (SIgA) antibodies represent the first line of antigen-specific immune defense protecting the mucosal surfaces against environmental pathogens and antigens, and maintaining homeostasis with the commensal microbiota. The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) has the dual role of transporting locally produced dimeric IgA across mucosal epithelia, and serving as the precursor of secretory component, a glycoprotein that enhances the immune functions of SIgA. The complex regulation of pIgR expression and transcytosis by host and microbial factors is finely tuned to optimize the role of SIgA in mucosal immunity. Disruption of this regulatory network in disease states similar to inflammatory bowel disease can result in profound consequences for mucosal homeostasis and systemic sequelae. Future research into the function and regulation of pIgR and SIgA may offer new insights into the prevention and treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases that originate at mucosal surfaces.

Regulation of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor by the classical and alternative NF-κB pathways in intestinal epithelial cells.

The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) transports IgA antibodies across intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Expression of pIgR is upregulated by proinflammatory signaling pathways via activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Here, we examined the contributions of the RelA-dependent classical and RelB-dependent alternative pathways of NF-κB to pIgR regulation in the HT-29 human IEC line following stimulation with tumor necrosis factor (TNF), lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) ligand), and polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (pIC; TLR3 ligand). Whereas induction of proinflammatory genes such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) required only RelA, pIgR expression was regulated by complex mechanisms that involved both RelA and RelB. Upregulation of pIgR expression by ligation of the lymphotoxin-ß receptor suggested a direct role for the alternative NF-κB pathway. Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinases reduced the induction of IL-8, but enhanced the induction of pIgR by TNF and TLR signaling. Regulation of pIgR through unique signaling pathways could allow IECs to sustain high levels of IgA transport while limiting the proinflammatory responses.

Signature biomarkers in Crohn's disease: toward a molecular classification.

In an effort to develop a molecular classification scheme for Crohn's disease (CD), mucosal biopsies from 69 CD patients and 28 normal controls were analyzed for expression of the RelA subunit of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, A20 (a negative regulator of NF-kappaB), polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin (IL)-8. Principal component analysis was used to classify individuals into three subsets based on patterns of biomarker expression. Set 1 included normal subjects and CD patients with mild disease and good responses to therapy, thus defining "normal" biomarker expression. CD patients in set 2, characterized by low expression of all five biomarkers, had moderate to severe disease and poor responses to immunosuppressive and anti-TNF therapy. Patients in set 3, characterized by low expression of RelA, A20, and pIgR, normal TNF and elevated IL-8, had acute inflammation that responded well to therapy. Classification of CD patients by these biomarkers may predict disease behavior and responses to therapy.

Polymeric Ig receptor: defender of the fort or Trojan horse?

The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) is important in host defense, transporting antibodies across mucosal epithelial cells. Recent work has shown that, using a protein that binds directly to the pIgR, Streptococcus pneumoniae can co-opt the transcytosis machinery and gain entry into airway epithelial cells.

Cryptic intron activation within the large exon of the mouse polymeric immunoglobulin receptor gene: cryptic splice sites correspond to protein domain boundaries.

The fourth exon of the mouse polymeric immuno-globulin receptor (pIgR) is 654 nt long and, despite being surrounded by large introns, is constitutively spliced into the mRNA. Deletion of an 84 nt sequence from this exon strongly activated both cryptic 5' and 3' splice sites surrounding a 78 nt cryptic intron. The 84 nt deletion is just upstream of the cryptic 3' splice site; the cryptic 3' splice site was likely activated because the deletion created a better 3' splice site. However, the cryptic 5' splice site was also required to activate the cryptic splice reaction; point mutations in either of the cryptic splice sites that decreased their match to the consensus splice site sequence inactivated the cryptic splice reaction. The activation and inactivation of these cryptic splice sites as a pair suggests that they are being co-recognized by the splicing machinery. Interestingly, the large fourth exon of the pIgR gene encodes two immunoglobulin-like extracellular protein domains; the cryptic 3' splice site coincides with the junction between these protein domains. The cryptic 5' splice site is located between protein subdomains where an intron is found in another gene of the immunoglobulin superfamily.

Cutting edge: coordinate regulation of IFN regulatory factor-1 and the polymeric Ig receptor by proinflammatory cytokines.

The polymeric IgR (pIgR) mediates transcytosis of IgA across epithelial barriers of mucous membranes and exocrine glands. Synthesis of pIgR is up-regulated by the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-1 in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells. We previously reported that IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha induce production of the transcription factor IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) in HT-29 cells and that IRF-1 binds to an element in exon 1 of the PIGR gene. We now report that levels of IRF-1 and pIgR mRNA are coordinately regulated in HT-29 cells by TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and IL-1beta. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in vivo expression of pIgR mRNA is greatly depressed in the intestine and liver of IRF-1-deficient mice. Our findings indicate a major role for the IRF-1 transcription factor in regulation of the PIGR gene and suggest a model for regulation of important genes in the mucosal immune system by proinflammatory cytokines.

Antibody against the human J chain inhibits polymeric Ig receptor-mediated biliary and epithelial transport of human polymeric IgA.

To emphasize the requirement for a J chain in native polymeric immunoglobulins for their selective transport into exocrine secretions, IgG, purified from two different antisera specific for the human J chain, was shown to: (i) bind in vitro to human polymeric IgA (pIgA) by density gradient ultracentrifugation; (ii) inhibit binding in vitro of rat secretory component to human pIgA; (iii) inhibit hepatic transport of human pIgA into rat bile in vivo; and (iv) inhibit apical transcytosis of pIgA in vitro by polarized human polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR)-expressing Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. Inhibition of biliary transport increased with the molar ratio of anti-J chain antibodies against pIgA and their incubation time. Anti-J chain F(ab')2 and Fab fragments also inhibited biliary transport, excluding a role for phagocytic clearance or excessive size of the immune complexes. Anti-human-Fc alpha Fab, bound to human pIgA in complexes of larger size than those with anti-J chain Fab, did not inhibit biliary transport of human pIgA. Propionic acid-denatured human pIgA, although containing J chains, was very poorly transported into rat bile. Altogether, our data strongly support, now also by in vivo experiments, the crucial role of the J chain of native pIgA in its selective pIgR-mediated transport into secretions, as suggested long ago by in vitro data only. Recent data on J chain-knockout mice, with low IgA levels in bile and feces, cannot explain the role of the J chain in contributing to the secretory component/pIgR-binding site of normal pIgA, but otherwise agree with our study.

Transcriptional regulation of the human polymeric immunoglobulin receptor gene by interferon-gamma.

IgA is transported into external secretions by the polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR). Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a major regulator of pIgR expression, has been shown to increase pIgR mRNA levels in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells. To determine the molecular mechanisms of pIgR regulation, genomic DNA containing the 5'-flanking region of the human pIgR gene was isolated and a single start site of transcription in human intestinal epithelial cells was identified. Using chimeric reporter plasmids containing flanking regions of the pIgR gene, a segment of the pIgR promoter which is necessary and sufficient for induction of transcription by IFN-gamma in HT-29 cells was identified. Significantly, the pIgR promoter contains three motifs homologous to the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE), two in the 5'-flanking region and one in exon 1 of the pIgR gene. The upstream ISREs bind nuclear protein(s) which are constitutively expressed by HT-29 cells, while the exon 1 ISRE binds interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1), following stimulation with IFN-gamma. Furthermore, induction of the IRF-1 promoter by IFN-gamma correlates with induction of the pIgR promoter by IFN-gamma. It has previously been demonstrated that induction of pIgR mRNA by IFN-gamma, requires de novo protein synthesis. It is now shown that IRF-1 is not detected in nuclear extracts from HT-29 cells stimulated with IFN-gamma in the presence of cycloheximide, suggesting that de novo synthesis of IRF-1 is required for induction of pIgR transcription by IFN-gamma.

Comparative studies of transcytosis and assembly of secretory IgA in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells expressing human polymeric Ig receptor.

Epithelial transport of polymeric IgA (pIgA) from its site of synthesis to the mucosal lumen is mediated by the polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR). During transcytosis, a disulfide bond forms between pIgR and pIgA, resulting in secretion of a covalently linked complex. To dissect further the intracellular processing and functions of pIgR, we have expressed the entire coding sequence of human pIgR cDNA in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Cloned transfected cells express human pIgR, as detected by immunofluorescence and by quantification of the cleaved extracellular domain of pIgR in culture supernatants. The function of transfected pIgR was confirmed by measuring vectorial transcytosis of 125I-labeled pIgA and its disulfide bonding to pIgR. Species specificity of transcytosis was determined by comparing transport of human, rat, and mouse pIgA in MDCK cells expressing either human or rabbit pIgR. pIgA from all three species was transported by both human and rabbit pIgR, with rat pIgA being transported to the greatest extent in each case. However, disulfide bonding was observed only with human pIgR, and was found to occur mainly inside the cell. Our results suggest that conformational differences between human and rabbit pIgR may account for differences in disulfide bonding to pIgA, and show that efficient transcytosis of pIgA is correlated better with noncovalent than covalent binding to pIgR.

IgA and mucosal defense.

The traditional role of IgA antibodies in mucosal defense has been considered as providing an immune barrier to keep exogenous substances, including microbial pathogens, from penetrating the mucosa. In this way infections can be prevented. More recently, studies in vitro and in vivo are providing evidence to suggest that IgA may have additional roles in mucosal defense. For example, during their passage through the lining epithelial cells of mucous membranes en route to the secretions, IgA antibodies may have an opportunity to neutralize intracellular pathogens like viruses. Also, IgA antibodies in the mucosal lamina propria have opportunities to complex with antigens and excrete them through the adjacent mucosal epithelium, again by the same route to the secretions that is taken by free IgA. These latter functions could aid in recovery from infection.

Molecular cloning of the mouse polymeric Ig receptor. Functional regions of the molecule are conserved among five mammalian species.

Transcytosis of polymeric Ig (pIg) by mucosal epithelial cells is mediated by the polymeric Ig receptor (pIgR). Here we describe the characterization of a 3095-bp mouse pIgR cDNA, which encodes a protein of 771 amino acids. Northern blot analysis detected a single mouse pIgR transcript of 3.9 kb, expressed at high levels in small intestine and liver, and at low levels in lung. Alignment of the amino acid sequences of mouse, rat, human, bovine, and rabbit pIgR revealed that functional regions of the molecule are conserved across species. In the extracellular region, conserved motifs include: a 23-amino acid pIg-binding site, 11 intradomain disulfide bonds, consensus sites for N-glycosylation, and a putative cleavage site at which the extracellular region of pIgR (secretory component) is released from the plasma membrane. A 10-amino acid sequence within the transmembrane region is highly conserved, possibly reflecting a mechanism for transmitting signals from the extracellular region to the cytoplasmic tail. Conservation within the cytoplasmic tail of pIgR is clustered in motifs that mediate polarized sorting, endocytosis, and transcytosis.

Gene transfer into the airway epithelium of animals by targeting the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor.

Genes of interest can be targeted specifically to respiratory epithelial cells in intact animals with high efficiency by exploiting the receptor-mediated endocytosis of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor. A DNA carrier, consisting of the Fab portion of polyclonal antibodies raised against rat secretory component covalently linked to poly-L-lysine, was used to introduce plasmids containing different reporter genes into airway epithelial cells in vivo. We observed significant levels of luciferase enzyme activity in protein extracts from the liver and lung, achieving maximum values of 13,795 +/- 4,431 and 346,954 +/- 199,120 integrated light units (ILU) per milligram of protein extract, respectively. No luciferase activity was detected in spleen or heart, which do not express the receptor. Transfections using complexes consisting of an irrelevant plasmid (pCMV lacZ) bound to the bona fide carrier or the expression plasmid (pGEMluc) bound to a carrier based on an irrelevant Fab fragment resulted in background levels of luciferase activity in all tissues examined. Thus, only tissues that contain cells bearing the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor are transfected, and transfection cannot be attributed to the nonspecific uptake of an irrelevant carrier-DNA complex. Specific mRNA from the luciferase gene was also detected in the lungs of transfected animals. To determine which cells in the lungs are transfected by this method, DNA complexes were prepared containing expression plasmids with genes encoding the bacterial beta-galactosidase or the human interleukin 2 receptor. Expression of these genes was localized to the surface epithelium of the airways and the submucosal glands, and not the bronchioles and alveoli. Receptor-mediated endocytosis can be used to introduce functional genes into the respiratory epithelium of rats, and may be a useful technique for gene therapy targeting the lung.

Inhibition of IFN-gamma activity in supernatants from stimulated human intestinal mononuclear cells prevents up-regulation of the polymeric Ig receptor in an intestinal epithelial cell line.

The polymeric IgR (pIgR) mediates transcytosis of polymeric IgA across mucosal epithelia. Expression of this receptor in HT-29.74 human colon carcinoma cells is up-regulated by the recombinant cytokines IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-4. Here, we demonstrate that activation of freshly isolated human intestinal lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMC) induces production of natural cytokines, and these act synergistically as potent stimulators of pIgR expression in HT-29.74 cells. LPMC from normal colonic mucosa were stimulated with PMA and calcium ionophore A-23187. The resulting supernatants consistently induced dose-dependent increases in pIgR expression by HT-29.74 cells, up to 65-fold. Analysis of four separate LPMC supernatants revealed mean concentrations of 8260 pg/ml for IFN-gamma, 420 pg/ml for TNF-alpha, and 15 pg/ml for IL-4. Ab-mediated neutralization of these cytokines suggested that the central regulator of pIgR expression in these supernatants was IFN-gamma. IL-4 neutralization had no effect on induction and TNF-alpha neutralization slightly reduced induction. In contrast, IFN-gamma neutralization abolished up to 93% of pIgR induction and had essentially the same effect as simultaneous neutralization of all three cytokines. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that natural cytokines, predominantly IFN-gamma, produced by stimulated human intestinal lymphocytes and macrophages have the capacity to up-regulate dramatically pIgR expression in an intestinal epithelial cell line, strongly suggesting that their action in vivo leads to enhancement of local defense functions mediated by IgA.

Disulfide bond formation between dimeric immunoglobulin A and the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor during hepatic transcytosis.

The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor on rat hepatocytes binds dimeric IgA on the sinusoidal surface and mediates its transport to the canaliculus, where the complex of dimeric IgA and secretory component, the cleaved extracellular domain of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, is secreted into bile. This process is unique in that disulfide bonds are formed between dimeric IgA and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor during transcytosis, permanently preventing their dissociation. Here we present three lines of evidence that disulfide bonding between dimeric IgA and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor occurs predominantly in a late transcytotic compartment and that hepatic transcytosis can proceed in the absence of disulfide bond formation. First, throughout the course of transcytosis the percentage of intracellular dimeric IgA disulfide bonded to polymeric immunoglobulin receptor is less than half that in bile, suggesting that disulfide bond formation is a late event in transcytosis. Second, dimeric IgA that recycles from early endocytotic compartments into the circulation is mostly noncovalently bound to secretory component. Finally, the rate of transcytosis of dimeric IgA and its appearance in bile are not affected when disulfide bond formation with polymeric immunoglobulin receptor is inhibited by blocking of free thiol groups on dimeric IgA with iodoacetamide. These results are consistent with other findings in the literature and indicate that the main physiological role of disulfide bond formation between dimeric IgA and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor is not to facilitate transcytosis but, rather, to stabilize the dimeric IgA-secretory component complex after its release into external secretions such as bile and intestinal secretions.

Epithelial transcytosis of monomeric IgA and IgG cross-linked through antigen to polymeric IgA. A role for monomeric antibodies in the mucosal immune system.

We recently demonstrated that the polymeric IgR (pIgR) mediates epithelial transcytosis of immune complexes (IC) containing dimeric IgA (dIgA). In vivo, this "excretory" pathway could allow direct elimination of IgA IC at the mucosal sites where they are likely to form. In contrast, IC containing only monomeric IgA (mIgA) were not transported, consistent with the specificity of pIgR for polymeric IgA. However, the potential exists in vivo that monomeric Ig like mIgA or IgG could become associated through binding to multivalent Ag with IC containing dIgA, and that such mixed IC could act as ligands for pIgR. In the present work, using Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells that express pIgR, we showed that 125I-labeled anti-DNP mIgA or IgG in the same IC with unlabeled dIgA antibody and DNP-BSA Ag was vectorially transported from the basolateral to the apical surface and then released. However, 125I-mIgA IC or 125I-IgG IC (without dIgA) and 125I-mIgA or 125I-IgG in the presence of dIgA antibody (but without Ag) were not transported, demonstrating the necessity for monomeric Ig to be in an IC with dIgA to be transported. Transcytosis of mixed mIgA/dIgA or IgG/dIgA IC was mediated by pIgR because no transport was observed in untransfected, wild-type Madin-Darby canine kidney cells lacking pIgR. The data demonstrate that mIgA and IgG can participate along with dIgA in the "excretory" pathway for local elimination of IgA IC, thus providing a means by which monomeric antibodies have the potential to participate in the mucosal immune system.

Gene transfer into respiratory epithelial cells by targeting the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor.

A system for targeting foreign DNA to epithelial cells in vitro has been developed by exploiting receptor-mediated endocytosis. The polymeric immunoglobulin receptor transports dimeric immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin M through epithelial cells, including those of the respiratory tract, by binding the immunoglobulins at the basolateral surface and transporting them across the cell. Fab fragments of antibodies directed against the extracellular portion of the receptor, secretory component, are similarly transported. Anti-human secretory component Fab fragments were covalently linked to a polycation, and complexed to various expression plasmids. When bound to an expression plasmid containing the Escherichia coli lacZ gene ligated to the Rous sarcoma virus promoter, the complexes transfected HT29.74 human colon carcinoma cells induced to express polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, but not those lacking the receptor. Primary cultures of human tracheal epithelial cells grown on collagen gels, which induce the expression of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, were also transfected with the complexes. From 5 to 66% of the respiratory epithelial cells had beta-galactosidase activity after treatment, comparable to the percentage of cultured human tracheal epithelial cells that express polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (8-35%). The addition of excess human secretory component (Fab ligand) to the culture medium at the time of transfection blocked the delivery of DNA. The expression plasmid, either alone, complexed to the polycation, or complexed to a carrier based on an irrelevant Fab fragment, was not effective in transfecting either cell type. This DNA carrier system introduces DNA specifically into epithelial cells that contain pIgR in vitro.