Hyaluronan fragments contribute to the ozone-primed immune response to lipopolysaccharide

J Immunol. 2010 Dec 1;185(11):6891-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1000283. Epub 2010 Oct 29.

Abstract

Hyaluronan is a high-molecular mass component of pulmonary extracelluar matrix, and lung injury can generate a low-molecular mass hyaluronan (HA) fragment that functions as endogenous ligand to cell surface receptors CD44 and TLR4. This leads to activation of intracellular NF-κB signaling and proinflammatory cytokine production. Based on previous information that ozone exposure causes increased HA in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid and ozone pre-exposure primes immune response to inhaled LPS, we hypothesized that HA production during ozone exposure augments the inflammatory response to LPS. We demonstrate that acute ozone exposure at 1 part per million for 3 h primes the immune response to low-dose aerosolized LPS in C57BL/6J mice, resulting in increased neutrophil recruitment into the airspaces, increased levels of protein and proinflammatory cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and increased airway hyperresponsiveness. Intratracheal instillation of endotoxin-free HA (25 μg) enhances the biological response to inhaled LPS in a manner similar to ozone pre-exposure. In vitro studies using bone marrow-derived macrophages indicate that HA enhances LPS responses measured by TNF-α production, while immunofluorescence staining of murine alveolar macrophages demonstrates that HA induces TLR4 peripheralization and lipid raft colocalization. Collectively, our observations support that ozone primes macrophage responsiveness to low-dose LPS, in part, due to HA-induced TLR4 peripheralization in lung macrophages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acute Lung Injury / chemically induced
  • Acute Lung Injury / immunology
  • Acute Lung Injury / pathology
  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Animals
  • Bone Marrow Cells / drug effects
  • Bone Marrow Cells / immunology
  • Bone Marrow Cells / metabolism
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / chemistry
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / metabolism
  • Hyaluronic Acid / biosynthesis
  • Hyaluronic Acid / chemistry
  • Hyaluronic Acid / toxicity*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / administration & dosage*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / chemistry
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / drug effects
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / immunology
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Molecular Weight
  • Ozone / administration & dosage
  • Ozone / chemistry
  • Ozone / toxicity*

Substances

  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Ozone
  • Hyaluronic Acid