Jaklien C. Leemans

Renal-associated TLR2 mediates ischemia/reperfusion injury in the kidney

TLRs are conserved pattern recognition receptors that detect motifs of pathogens and host material released during injury. For unknown reasons, renal TLR2 mRNA is mainly expressed by tubular cells and is enhanced upon renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. We evaluated the role of TLR2 in I/R injury using TLR2-/- and TLR2+/+ mice, TLR2 antisense oligonucleotides, and chimeric mice deficient in leukocyte or renal TLR2. Tubular cells needed TLR2 to produce significant cytokine and chemokine amounts upon ischemia in vitro. TLR2 played a proinflammatory and detrimental role in vivo after I/R injury, as reflected by a reduction in the amount of local cytokines and chemokines, leukocytes, and the level of renal injury and dysfunction in TLR2-/- mice compared with controls. Analysis of chimeric mice suggested that TLR2 expressed on renal parenchyma plays a crucial role in the induction of inflammation and injury. TLR2-antisense treatment protected mice from renal dysfunction, neutrophil influx, and tubular apoptosis after I/R injury compared with nonsense treatment. In summary, we identified renal-associated TLR2 as an important initiator of inflammatory responses leading to renal injury and dysfunction in I/R injury. These data imply that TLR2 blockade could provide a basis for therapeutic strategies to treat or prevent renal ischemic injury.

Necrotic cells trigger a sterile inflammatory response through the Nlrp3 inflammasome.

Dying cells are capable of activating the innate immune system and inducing a sterile inflammatory response. Here, we show that necrotic cells are sensed by the Nlrp3 inflammasome resulting in the subsequent release of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Necrotic cells produced by pressure disruption, hypoxic injury, or complement-mediated damage were capable of activating the Nlrp3 inflammasome. Nlrp3 inflammasome activation was triggered in part through ATP produced by mitochondria released from damaged cells. Neutrophilic influx into the peritoneum in response to necrotic cells in vivo was also markedly diminished in the absence of Nlrp3. Nlrp3-deficiency moreover protected animals against mortality, renal dysfunction, and neutrophil influx in an in vivo renal ischemic acute tubular necrosis model. These findings suggest that the inhibition of Nlrp3 inflammasome activity can diminish the acute inflammation and damage associated with tissue injury.

Role of Toll-Like Receptor 4 in Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Pneumonia in Mice

ABSTRACT To determine the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the immune response to pneumonia, C3H/HeJ mice (which display a mutant nonfunctional TLR4) and C3H/HeN wild-type mice were intranasally infected with either Streptococcus pneumoniae (a common gram-positive respiratory pathogen) or Klebsiella pneumoniae (a common gram-negative respiratory pathogen). In cases of pneumococcal pneumonia, TLR4 mutant mice showed a reduced survival only after infection with low-level bacterial doses, which was associated with a higher bacterial burden in their lungs 48 h postinfection. In Klebsiella pneumonia, TLR4 mutant mice demonstrated a shortened survival after infection with either a low- or a high-level bacterial dose together with an enhanced bacterial outgrowth in their lungs. These data suggest that TLR4 contributes to a protective immune response in both pneumococcal and Klebsiella pneumonia and that its role is more important in respiratory tract infection caused by the latter (gram-negative) pathogen.

Depletion of Alveolar Macrophages Exerts Protective Effects in Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Mice

Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli are intracellular organisms that reside in phagosomes of alveolar macrophages (AMs). To determine the in vivo role of AM depletion in host defense against M. tuberculosis infection, mice with pulmonary tuberculosis induced by intranasal administration of virulent M. tuberculosis were treated intranasally with either liposome-encapsulated dichloromethylene diphosphonate (AM− mice), liposomes, or saline (AM+ mice). AM− mice were completely protected against lethality, which was associated with a reduced outgrowth of mycobacteria in lungs and liver, and a polarized production of type 1 cytokines in lung tissue, and by splenocytes stimulated ex vivo. AM− mice displayed deficient granuloma formation, but were more capable of attraction and activation of T cells into the lung and had increased numbers of pulmonary polymorphonuclear cells. These data demonstrate that depletion of AMs is protective during pulmonary tuberculosis.

Toll-like receptor-4 coordinates the innate immune response of the kidney to renal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) can detect endogenous danger molecules released upon tissue injury resulting in the induction of a proinflammatory response. One of the TLR family members, TLR4, is constitutively expressed at RNA level on renal epithelium and this expression is enhanced upon renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The functional relevance of this organ-specific upregulation remains however unknown. We therefore investigated the specific role of TLR4 and the relative contribution of its two downstream signaling cascades, the MyD88-dependent and TRIF-dependent cascades in renal damage by using TLR4−/−, MyD88−/− and TRIF-mutant mice that were subjected to renal ischemia/reperfusion injury. Our results show that TLR4 initiates an exaggerated proinflammatory response upon I/R injury, as reflected by lower levels of chemokines and infiltrating granulocytes, less renal damage and a more preserved renal function in TLR4−/− mice as compared to wild type mice. In vitro studies demonstrate that renal tubular epithelial cells can coordinate an immune response to ischemic injury in a TLR4-dependent manner. In vivo we found that epithelial- and leukocyte-associated functional TLR4 contribute in a similar proportion to renal dysfunction and injury as assessed by bone marrow chimeric mice. Surprisingly, no significant differences were found in renal function and inflammation in MyD88−/− and TRIF-mutant mice compared with their wild types, suggesting that selective targeting of TLR4 directly may be more effective for the development of therapeutic tools to prevent I/R injury than targeting the intracellular pathways used by TLR4. In conclusion, we identified TLR4 as a cellular sentinel for acute renal damage that subsequently controls the induction of an innate immune response.

Sensing damage by the NLRP3 inflammasome

Summary:  The NLRP3 inflammasome is activated in response to a variety of signals that are indicative of damage to the host including tissue damage, metabolic stress, and infection. Upon activation, the NLRP3 inflammasome serves as a platform for activation of the cysteine protease caspase‐1, which leads to the processing and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) and IL‐18. Dysregulated NLRP3 inflammasome activation is associated with both heritable and acquired inflammatory diseases. Here, we review new insights into the mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and its role in disease pathogenesis.

CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides Enhance Host Defense during Murine Tuberculosis

ABSTRACT Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) containing unmethylated CpG motifs activate immune cells to produce cytokines. CpG ODNs protect mice against infections with intracellular bacteria by the induction of a T helper 1 (Th1) response. To determine the effect of CpG ODNs in pulmonary tuberculosis, mice were treated with CpG ODNs or control ODNs at the time of intranasal infection. CpG ODNs reduced mycobacterial outgrowth for up to 5 weeks after Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and were associated with a decrease in inflammation in lung tissue. CpG treatment was also associated with elevated levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and decreased levels of interleukin 4 in the lungs and an increased capacity of splenocytes to secrete Th1-type cytokines. CpG ODNs given 2 weeks after infection were still able to reduce mycobacterial outgrowth and to enhance a Th1 response 5 weeks postinfection. Administration of CpG ODNs to IFN-γ-gene-deficient mice failed to reduce mycobacterial outgrowth. These data suggest that CpG ODNs improve host defense during pulmonary tuberculosis by an IFN-γ-dependent mechanism.

The Epidermal Growth Factor-Seven Transmembrane (EGF-TM7) Receptor CD97 Is Required for Neutrophil Migration and Host Defense

The epidermal growth factor-seven transmembrane (EGF-TM7) family is a group of seven-span transmembrane receptors predominantly expressed by cells of the immune system. Family members CD97, EGF module-containing mucin-like receptor (EMR) 1, EMR2, EMR3, EMR4, and EGF-TM7-latrophilin-related protein are characterized by an extended extracellular region with a variable number of N-terminal EGF-like domains. EGF-TM7 receptors bind cellular ligands as demonstrated by the interaction of CD97 with decay accelerating factor (CD55) and dermatan sulfate. Investigating the effect of newly generated mAb on the migration of neutrophilic granulocytes, we here report for the first time in vivo data on the function of CD97. In dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental colitis, we show that homing of adoptively transferred neutrophils to the colon was significantly delayed when cells were preincubated with CD97 mAb. The consequences of this defect in neutrophil migration for host defense are demonstrated in a murine model of Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced pneumonia. Mice treated with CD97 mAb to EGF domain 1 (1B2) and EGF domain 3 (1C5) displayed a reduced granulocytic inflammatory infiltrate at 20 h after inoculation. This was associated with a significantly enhanced outgrowth of bacteria in the lungs at 44 h and a strongly diminished survival. Together, these findings indicate an essential role for CD97 in the migration of neutrophils.

CD44 is a macrophage binding site for Mycobacterium tuberculosis that mediates macrophage recruitment and protective immunity against tuberculosis

Cell migration and phagocytosis are both important for controlling Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and are critically dependent on the reorganization of the cytoskeleton. Since CD44 is an adhesion molecule involved in inflammatory responses and is connected to the actin cytoskeleton, we investigated the role of CD44 in both these processes. Macrophage (Mphi) recruitment into M. tuberculosis-infected lungs and delayed-type hypersensitivity sites was impaired in CD44-deficient (CD44(-/-)) mice. In addition, the number of T lymphocytes and the concentration of the protective key cytokine IFN-gamma were reduced in the lungs of infected CD44(-/-) mice. The production of IFN-gamma by splenocytes of CD44(-/-) mice was profoundly increased upon antigen-specific stimulation. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that soluble CD44 can directly bind to virulent M. tuberculosis. Mycobacteria also interacted with Mphi-associated CD44, as reflected by reduced binding and internalization of bacilli by CD44(-/-) Mphis. This suggests that CD44 is a receptor on Mphis for binding of M. tuberculosis. CD44(-/-) mice displayed a decreased survival and an enhanced mycobacterial outgrowth in lungs and liver during pulmonary tuberculosis. In summary, we have identified CD44 as a new Mphi binding site for M. tuberculosis that mediates mycobacterial phagocytosis, Mphi recruitment, and protective immunity against pulmonary tuberculosis.

TLR4 Promotes Fibrosis but Attenuates Tubular Damage in Progressive Renal Injury

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) can orchestrate an inflammatory response upon activation by pathogen-associated motifs and release of endogenous stress ligands during tissue injury. The kidney constitutively expresses most TLRs, including TLR4. The function of TLR4 during the inflammation, tubular atrophy, and fibrosis that accompany progressive renal injury is unknown. Here, we subjected wild-type (WT) and TLR4-deficient mice to unilateral ureteral obstruction and observed elevated levels of TLR4 mRNA in the kidney after obstruction. One day after unilateral ureteral obstruction, TLR4-deficient mice had fewer proliferating tubular epithelial cells and more tubular damage than WT mice; however, TLR4-deficient mice developed considerably less renal fibrosis despite decreased matrix metalloproteinase activity and without significant differences in myofibroblast accumulation. In vitro, TLR4-deficient primary tubular epithelial cells and myofibroblasts produced significantly less type I collagen mRNA after TGF-beta stimulation than WT cells. The reduced fibrosis in TLR4-deficient mice associated with an upregulation of Bambi, a negative regulator of TGF-beta signaling. In conclusion, TLR4 attenuates tubular damage but promotes renal fibrosis by modulating the susceptibility of renal cells to TGF-beta. These data suggest that TLR4 signaling may be a therapeutic target for the prevention of renal fibrosis.