Genetic polymorphisms within the human Toll-like receptor 2 subfamily.

Infectious disease is a formidable selective force in Nature as is evident from the complexity of immune systems across multicellular species. TLRs (Toll-like receptors) constitute central pattern-recognition molecules of the innate immune system that sense bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoan and helminth organisms and activate responses that provide immediate as well as long-term protection for the host. The present article reviews the function and evolution of vertebrate TLRs with an emphasis on the subfamily of receptors comprising human TLR1, 2, 6 and 10. The idea that TLRs undergo strong purifying selection provides the framework for the discussion of single nucleotide polymorphisms, many of which are associated with the incidence of infectious disease.

BMK1 mediates growth factor-induced cell proliferation through direct cellular activation of serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase.

Activation of the mammalian mitogen-activated protein kinase known as BMK1 is required for growth factor-induced cell proliferation. To understand the mechanism by which BMK1 mediates this cellular response, this kinase was used as bait in a yeast two-hybrid-based library screening. Here, we report the identification of serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK) as a cellular protein that physically interacts with BMK1. During growth factor-induced cell stimulation, BMK1 activates SGK by phosphorylation at serine 78. This BMK1-mediated phosphorylation event is necessary for the activation of SGK and, more importantly, for cell proliferation induced by growth factors.

Leptospiral lipopolysaccharide activates cells through a TLR2-dependent mechanism.

Leptospira interrogans are zoonotic pathogens that have been linked to a recent increased incidence of morbidity and mortality in highly populated tropical urban centers. They are unique among invasive spirochetes in that they contain outer membrane lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as well as lipoproteins. Here we show that both these leptospiral outer membrane constituents activate macrophages through CD14 and the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). Conversely, it seems that TLR4, a central component for recognition of Gram-negative LPS, is not involved in cellular responses to L. interrogans. We also show that for intact L. interrogans, it is LPS, not lipoprotein, that constitutes the predominant signaling component for macrophages through a TLR2 pathway. These data provide a basis for understanding the innate immune response caused by leptospirosis and demonstrate a new ligand specificity for TLR2.

Toll-like receptor 4, but not toll-like receptor 2, is a signaling receptor for Escherichia and Salmonella lipopolysaccharides.

Two members of the mammalian Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, TLR2 and TLR4, have been implicated as receptors mediating cellular activation in response to bacterial LPS. Through the use of mAbs raised against human TLR2 and TLR4, we have conducted studies in human cell lines and whole blood to ascertain the relative contribution of these receptors to LPS induced cytokine release. We show that the contribution of TLR2 and TLR4 to LPS-induced cellular activation correlates with the relative expression levels of these two TLRs in a given cell type. In addition, we have found that significant differences in cell stimulatory activity exist between various smooth and rough LPS types that cannot be ascribed to known LPS structural features. These results suggest that impurities in the LPS may be responsible for some of the activity and this would be in agreement with recently published results of others. Upon repurification, none of the commercial LPS preparations activate cells through TLR2, but continue to stimulate cells with comparable activity through TLR4. Our results confirm recent findings that TLR4, but not TLR2, mediates cellular activation in response to LPS derived from both Escherichia coli and Salmonella minnesota. Additionally, we show that TLR4 is the predominant signaling receptor for LPS in human whole blood.

Big mitogen-activated kinase regulates multiple members of the MEF2 protein family.

Big mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (BMK1), a member of the mammalian MAP kinase family, is activated by growth factors. The activation of BMK1 is required for growth factor-induced cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. We have previously shown that BMK1 regulates c-jun gene expression through direct phosphorylation and activation of transcription factor MEF2C. MEF2C belongs to the myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) protein family, a four-membered family of transcription factors denoted MEF2A, -2B, -2C, and -2D. Here, we demonstrate that, in addition to MEF2C, BMK1 phosphorylates and activates MEF2A and MEF2D but not MEF2B. The blocking of BMK1 signaling inhibits the epidermal growth factor-dependent activation of these three MEF2 transcription factors. The sites phosphorylated by activated BMK1 were mapped to Ser-355, Thr-312, and Thr-319 of MEF2A and Ser-179 of MEF2D both in vitro and in vivo. Site-directed mutagenesis reveals that the phosphorylation of these sites in MEF2A and MEF2D are necessary for the induction of MEF2A and 2D transactivating activity by either BMK1 or by epidermal growth factor. Taken together, these data demonstrate that, upon growth factor induction, BMK1 directly phosphorylates and activates three members of the MEF2 family of transcription factors thereby inducing MEF2-dependent gene expression.

Role of BMK1 in regulation of growth factor-induced cellular responses.

Big mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 1 (BMK1), also known as ERK5, is a recently identified member of the mammalian MAPK family. Cellular stimulation of BMK1 is induced in response to growth factors, oxidative stress, and hyperosmolar conditions. Specific members of the myocyte enhancer factor 2 family of transcription factors that regulate growth factor-induced early gene expression have been identified as direct downstream targets of BMK1 activity. Recent studies have shown that growth factors of the epidermal growth factor family mediate the sequential activation of a kinase cascade consisting of MAPK kinase kinase 3, MAPK kinase 5, and BMK1. Most importantly, the activation of this signal transduction pathway has been shown to be required for growth factor-mediated cell proliferation and cell-cycle progression. Collectively, these studies establish BMK1 as an important regulator of growth factor-induced cellular responses.

Innate immune system recognition of microbial pathogens.

The long-term goal of our laboratory is to understand vertebrate host recognition of microbial pathogens. Although our work is primarily curiosity driven, it is certainly true that understanding how a host recognizes microbial pathogens should have some medical application. Probably more than 50,000 people die each year in the United States of septic shock or the systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and there is no good therapy for this problem. Understanding the molecular basis of its origin should suggest novel therapeutic approaches.

MEKK3 directly regulates MEK5 activity as part of the big mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (BMK1) signaling pathway.

Big mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (BMK1), also known as ERK5, is a member of the MAP kinase family whose cellular activity is elevated in response to growth factors, oxidative stress, and hyperosmolar conditions. Previous studies have identified MEK5 as a cellular kinase directly regulating BMK1 activity; however, signaling molecules that directly regulate MEK5 activity have not yet been defined. Through utilization of a yeast two-hybrid screen, we have identified MEKK3 as a molecule that physically interacts with MEK5. This interaction appears to take place in mammalian cells as evidenced by the fact that cellular MEK5 and MEKK3 co-immunoprecipitate. In addition, we show that a dominant active form of MEKK3 stimulates BMK1 activity through MEK5. Moreover, we demonstrate that MEKK3 activity is required for growth factor mediated cellular activation of endogenous BMK1. Taken together, these results identify MEKK3 as a kinase that regulates the activity of MEK5 and BMK1 during growth factor-induced cellular stimulation.

Membrane-anchored forms of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein do not mediate cellular responses to LPS independently of CD14.

Inflammatory responses of myeloid cells to LPS are mediated through CD14, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored receptor that binds LPS. Since CD14 does not traverse the plasma membrane and alternatively anchored forms of CD14 still enable LPS-induced cellular activation, the precise role of CD14 in mediating these responses remains unknown. To address this, we created a transmembrane and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored form of LPS-binding protein (LBP), a component of serum that binds and transfers LPS to other molecules. Stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) fibroblast and U373 astrocytoma cell lines expressing membrane-anchored LBP (mLBP), as well as separate CHO and U373 cell lines expressing membrane CD14 (mCD14), were subsequently generated. Under serum-free conditions, CHO and U373 cells expressing mCD14 responded to as little as 0.1 ng/ml of LPS, as measured by NF-kappaB activation as well as ICAM and IL-6 production. Conversely, the vector control and mLBP-expressing cell lines did not respond under serum-free conditions even in the presence of more than 100 ng/ml of LPS. All the cell lines exhibited responses to less than 1 ng/ml of LPS in the presence of the soluble form of CD14, demonstrating that they are still capable of LPS-induced activation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that mLBP, a protein that brings LPS to the cell surface, does not mediate cellular responses to LPS independently of CD14. These findings suggest that CD14 performs a more specific role in mediating responses to LPS than that of simply bringing LPS to the cell surface.

Endotoxin interactions with lipopolysaccharide-responsive cells.

Recent work has identified two proteins that work together to enable many cell types to respond to endotoxin. These two proteins, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding protein (LBP) and CD14, also participate in cellular internalization of endotoxin, which may occur independently of cellular activation. Current work with antibodies to LBP and CD14 as well as "knockout" mice in the context of LPS-initiated endotoxic shock suggests that inhibition of this pathway could be therapeutically useful. These observations point to the need to identify new molecules that mediate LPS-initiated transmembrane signaling and internalization of LPS-protein complexes.

Bmk1/Erk5 is required for cell proliferation induced by epidermal growth factor.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces cell proliferation in a variety of cell types by binding to a prototype transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor. Ligation of this receptor by EGF activates Erk1 and Erk2, members of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family, through a Ras-dependent signal transduction pathway. Despite our detailed understanding of these events, the exact mechanism by which EGF causes cells to proliferate is unclear. Big MAP kinase (Bmk1), also known as Erk5, is a member of the MAP kinase family that is activated in cells in response to oxidative stress, hyperosmolarity and treatment with serum. Here we show that EGF is a potent activator of Bmk1. In contrast to Erk1/2, EGF-mediated activation of Bmk1 occurs independently of Ras and requires the MAP-kinase kinase Mek5. Expression of a dominant-negative form of Bmk1 blocks EGF-induced cell proliferation and prevents cells from entering the S phase of the cell cycle. These results demonstrate that Bmk1 is part of a distinct MAP-kinase signalling pathway that is required for EGF-induced cell proliferation and progression through the cell cycle.

Binding of bacterial peptidoglycan to CD14.

The hypothesis that soluble peptidoglycan (sPGN, a macrophage-activator from Gram-positive bacteria) binds to CD14 (a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor) was tested. sPGN specifically bound to CD14 in the following three assays: binding of soluble 32P-CD14 (sCD14) to agarose-immobilized sPGN, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and photoaffinity cross-linking. sCD14 also specifically bound to agarose-immobilized muramyl dipeptide or GlcNAc-muramyl dipeptide but not to PGN pentapeptide. Binding of sCD14 to both sPGN and ReLPS (where ReLPS is LPS from Salmonella minnesota Re 595) was competitively inhibited by unlabeled sCD14, 1-152 N-terminal fragment of sCD14, sPGN, smooth LPS, ReLPS, lipid A, and lipoteichoic acid but not by dextran, dextran sulfate, heparin, ribitol teichoic acid, or soluble low molecular weight PGN fragments. Binding of sCD14 to sPGN was slower than to ReLPS but of higher affinity (KD = 25 nM versus 41 nM). LPS-binding protein (LBP) increased the binding of sCD14 to sPGN by adding another lower affinity KD and another higher Bmax, but for ReLPS, LBP increased the affinity of binding by yielding two KD with significantly higher affinity (7.1 and 27 nM). LBP also enhanced inhibition of sCD14 binding by LPS, ReLPS, and lipid A. Binding of sCD14 to both sPGN and ReLPS was inhibited by anti-CD14 MEM-18 mAb, but other anti-CD14 mAbs showed differential inhibition, suggesting conformational binding sites on CD14 for sPGN and LPS, that are partially identical and partially different.

Roles for LBP and soluble CD14 in cellular uptake of LPS.

Roles for LBP and CD14 in the LPS dependent activation of a wide variety of cells have been established. In the work described here, we describe roles for these proteins in the binding and uptake of LPS by cells which express membrane CD14 and those which do not. Surprisingly, cell activation and LPS uptake appear to be independent phenomena with different protein requirements.

Cellular binding of soluble CD14 requires lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS-binding protein.

The stimulation of nonmyeloid cells by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is mediated by the serum protein, soluble CD14 (sCD14). We have examined the interaction of sCD14 with whole cells using a biologically active radiolabeled sCD14 molecule as a ligand. Specific binding of sCD14 to nonmyeloid cells is detected only when it is first incubated with both LPS and the serum LPS-binding protein (LBP). Through the use of an anti-CD14 monoclonal antibody, we demonstrate that sCD14 must interact with LPS in order for cellular binding to occur. Although LBP is traditionally known to function as a catalyst in the transfer of LPS to sCD14, our results reveal that LBP is actually a physical part of sCD14-containing, cell-associating complexes. The LPS- and LBP-dependent cell surface binding of sCD14 appears to be distinct from events leading to cell stimulation, since certain anti-CD14 and anti-LBP monoclonal antibodies have different effects on cellular binding versus cellular activation. Bound sCD14 is internalized, indicating that the LBP- and LPS-dependent binding of sCD14 may represent a novel general mechanism by which nonmyeloid cells clear LPS.

BMK1/ERK5 regulates serum-induced early gene expression through transcription factor MEF2C.

Big MAP kinase 1 (BMK1), also known as ERK5, is a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase member whose biological role is largely undefined. We have shown previously that the activity of BMK1 in rat smooth muscle cells is up-regulated by oxidants. Here, we describe a constitutively active form of the MAP kinase kinase, MEK5(D), which selectively activates BMK1 but not other MAP kinases in vivo. Through utilization of MEK5(D), we have determined that a member of the MEF2 transcription factor family, MEF2C, is a protein substrate of BMK1. BMK1 dramatically enhances the transactivation activity of MEF2C by phosphorylating a serine residue at amino acid position 387 in this transcription factor. Serum is also a potent stimulator of BMK1-induced MEF2C phosphorylation, since a dominant-negative form of BMK1 specifically inhibits serum-induced activation of MEF2C. One consequence of MEF2C activation is increased transcription of the c-jun gene. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that in some cell types the MEK5/BMK1 MAP kinase signaling pathway regulates serum-induced early gene expression through the transcription factor MEF2C.

Upstream interactions of functional mammalian tRNA gene transcription complexes probed using a heterologous DNA-binding protein.

An oligonucleotide containing the recognition site for the Escherichia coli lac repressor was inserted at various positions in the 5' flanking region of a human serine tRNA gene, and the consequences of binding lac repressor on in vitro transcription by RNA polymerase III were investigated. lac repressor prebound to operator sites centered at positions -9, -15, -35, and -37 upstream of the mature tRNA coding region completely inhibited transcription by interfering with the formation or stability of transcription complexes. lac repressor also inhibited transcription of tDNA derivatives containing operator sites at -9 and -15 when added following assembly of transcription complexes or during ongoing synthesis, but had no effects on the other tDNA derivatives if added subsequent to complex assembly. lac repressor prebound at position -43 and -46 partially inhibited transcription and redirected initiation to sites farther downstream. These effects required the continued presence of bound repressor protein. Our findings demonstrate that the human RNA polymerase III transcription complex extends at least 35 nucleotides upstream of the coding region and suggest that the spatial constraints imposed by a protein bound this far upstream can alter start site selection. Moreover, the flanking region encompassing the transcription start site remains accessible to DNA-binding proteins following assembly of the initiation complex and throughout multiple rounds of transcription.

The 5' flanking sequence negatively modulates the in vivo expression and in vitro transcription of a human tRNA gene.

The consequences of altering the 5' flanking region of a human amber suppressor tRNA(ser) gene on phenotypic expression in vivo and transcription in vitro was examined by constructing a series of upstream deletion and substitution mutants. The resulting tDNA variants were examined for functional tRNA expression in vivo, by measuring suppression of a nonsense mutation in the Escherichia coli chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene in co-transfection assays, and for transcriptional activity in vitro using HeLa cell nuclear extracts. Mutant genes in which the 18 nucleotides 5' proximal to the coding region were deleted and replaced with heterologous sequences were 2 to 5 fold more active in vivo in comparison to the wild type gene. There was a strong, but not exclusive, correlation between the levels of nonsense suppression observed in vivo and transcriptional activity in vitro. In certain cases, introduction of an oligonucleotide encompassing this 18 nucleotide element upstream of more active tRNA genes reduced both the levels of suppression and template activity. These results indicate that the immediate 5' contiguous sequence of this tRNA gene negatively modulates expression both in vivo and in vitro.

Regulated expression of a mammalian nonsense suppressor tRNA gene in vivo and in vitro using the lac operator/repressor system.

We have exploited the Escherichia coli lac operator/repressor system as a means to regulate the expression of a mammalian tRNA gene in vivo and in vitro. An oligonucleotide containing a lac operator (lacO) site was cloned immediately upstream of a human serine amber suppressor (Su+) tRNA gene. Insertion of a single lac repressor binding site at position -1 or -32 relative to the coding region had no effect on the amount of functional tRNA made in vivo, as measured by suppression of a nonsense mutation in the E. coli chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene following cotransfection of mammalian cells. Inclusion of a plasmid expressing the lac repressor in the transfections resulted in 75 to 98% inhibition of suppression activity of lac operator-linked tRNA genes but had no effect on expression of the wild-type gene. Inhibition could be quantitatively relieved with the allosteric inducer isopropylthio-beta-D-galactoside (IPTG). Similarly, transcription in vitro of lac operator-linked tRNA genes in HeLa cell extracts was repressed in the presence of lac repressor, and this inhibition was reversible with IPTG. These results demonstrate that the bacterial lac operator/repressor system can be used to reversibly control the expression of mammalian genes that are transcribed by RNA polymerase III.