Innate immune responses to Mycobacterium ulcerans via toll-like receptors and dectin-1 in human keratinocytes

Cell Microbiol. 2009 Apr;11(4):678-92. doi: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2009.01285.x. Epub 2009 Jan 7.

Abstract

Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), an environmental pathogen, causes Buruli ulcer, a severe skin disease. We hypothesized that epidermal keratinocytes might not be a simple barrier, but play a role during MU infection through pattern-recognition receptors expressed in keratinocytes. We found that keratinocyte Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4 and Dectin-1 actively participate in the innate immune response to MU, which includes the internalization of bacteria, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the expression of chemokines and LL-37. Human keratinocytes constitutively expressed TLRs 2 and 4 and induced Dectin-1 in response to MU. Exposing keratinocytes to MU resulted in rapid ROS production, which in turn contributed to the mRNA and protein expression of LL-37. In addition, TLR2, Dectin-1 and, to an extent, TLR4 are essential for the MU-mediated expression of CXCL8, CCL2 and LL-37 in keratinocytes. Furthermore, confocal analysis showed that the Dectin-1 is necessary for keratinocytes to internalize bacilli. Importantly, blockade of ROS and LL-37 significantly increased the intracellular MU growth in keratinocytes, suggesting an important role of these mediators for cutaneous innate immune responses. Our results demonstrate that TLR2, TLR4 and Dectin-1 actively sense, internalize and respond in an innate way to MU in human epidermal keratinocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / genetics
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism
  • Cathelicidins
  • Cell Line
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chemokines / genetics
  • Chemokines / metabolism
  • Epidermal Cells
  • Epidermis / immunology
  • Epidermis / microbiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation / immunology
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Keratinocytes* / immunology
  • Keratinocytes* / metabolism
  • Keratinocytes* / microbiology
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mycobacterium ulcerans / immunology
  • Mycobacterium ulcerans / pathogenicity*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Chemokines
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • TLR2 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • dectin 1
  • Cathelicidins