Structural determination and Toll-like receptor 2-dependent proinflammatory activity of dimycolyl-diarabino-glycerol from Mycobacterium marinum

J Biol Chem. 2012 Oct 5;287(41):34432-44. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.378083. Epub 2012 Jul 13.

Abstract

Although it was identified in the cell wall of several pathogenic mycobacteria, the biological properties of dimycolyl-diarabino-glycerol have not been documented yet. In this study an apolar glycolipid, presumably corresponding to dimycolyl-diarabino-glycerol, was purified from Mycobacterium marinum and subsequently identified as a 5-O-mycolyl-β-Araf-(1→2)-5-O-mycolyl-α-Araf-(1→1')-glycerol (designated Mma_DMAG) using a combination of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry analyses. Lipid composition analysis revealed that mycolic acids were dominated by oxygenated mycolates over α-mycolates and devoid of trans-cyclopropane functions. Highly purified Mma_DMAG was used to demonstrate its immunomodulatory activity. Mma_DMAG was found to induce the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-8, IL-1β) in human macrophage THP-1 cells and to trigger the expression of ICAM-1 and CD40 cell surface antigens. This activation mechanism was dependent on TLR2, but not on TLR4, as demonstrated by (i) the use of neutralizing anti-TLR2 and -TLR4 antibodies and by (ii) the detection of secreted alkaline phosphatase in HEK293 cells co-transfected with the human TLR2 and secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase reporter genes. In addition, transcriptomic analyses indicated that various genes encoding proinflammatory factors were up-regulated after exposure of THP-1 cells to Mma_DMAG. Importantly, a wealth of other regulated genes related to immune and inflammatory responses, including chemokines/cytokines and their respective receptors, adhesion molecules, and metalloproteinases, were found to be modulated by Mma_DMAG. Overall, this study suggests that DMAG may be an active cell wall glycoconjugate driving host-pathogen interactions and participating in the immunopathogenesis of mycobacterial infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CD40 Antigens / immunology
  • CD40 Antigens / metabolism
  • Cytokines* / immunology
  • Cytokines* / metabolism
  • Glycolipids* / chemistry
  • Glycolipids* / immunology
  • Glycolipids* / isolation & purification
  • Glycolipids* / metabolism
  • Glycolipids* / pharmacology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators* / immunology
  • Inflammation Mediators* / metabolism
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / immunology
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Macrophages* / immunology
  • Macrophages* / metabolism
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / immunology
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / metabolism
  • Mycobacterium marinum* / chemistry
  • Mycobacterium marinum* / immunology
  • Mycobacterium marinum* / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2* / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2* / metabolism

Substances

  • CD40 Antigens
  • Cytokines
  • Glycolipids
  • ICAM1 protein, human
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • TLR2 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1