Activation of innate immune responses by Haemophilus influenzae lipooligosaccharide

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2014 May;21(5):769-76. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00063-14. Epub 2014 Mar 26.

Abstract

A Gram-negative pathogen Haemophilus influenzae has a truncated endotoxin known as lipooligosaccharide (LOS). Recent studies on H. influenzae LOS highlighted its structural and compositional implications for bacterial virulence; however, the role of LOS in the activation of innate and adaptive immunity is poorly understood. THP-1 monocytes were stimulated with either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli or LOS compounds derived from H. influenzae Eagan, Rd, and Rd lic1 lpsA strains. Cell surface expression of key antigen-presenting, costimulatory, and adhesion molecules, as well as gene expression of some cytokines and pattern recognition receptors, were studied. Eagan and Rd LOS had a lower capacity to induce the expression of ICAM-1, CD40, CD58, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) compared to LPS. In contrast, antigen-presenting (HLA-ABC or HLA-DR) and costimulatory (CD86) molecules and NOD2 were similarly upregulated in response to LOS and LPS. LOS from a mutant Rd strain (Rd lic1 lpsA) consistently induced higher expression of innate immune molecules than the wild-type LOS, suggesting the importance of phosphorylcholine and/or oligosaccharide extension in cellular responses to LOS. An LOS compound with a strong ability to upregulate antigen-presenting and costimulatory molecules combined with a low proinflammatory activity may be considered a vaccine candidate to immunize against H. influenzae.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / analysis
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokines / analysis
  • Escherichia coli / immunology
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • HLA Antigens / analysis
  • Haemophilus influenzae / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / analysis
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology*
  • Monocytes / drug effects
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein / analysis
  • Receptors, Immunologic / analysis

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Cytokines
  • HLA Antigens
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • NOD2 protein, human
  • Nod2 Signaling Adaptor Protein
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • lipid-linked oligosaccharides
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1