Identification of synthetic peptides that inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding to myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD-2)

J Immunother. 2013 Apr;36(3):197-207. doi: 10.1097/CJI.0b013e31828eed62.

Abstract

Many studies have suggested that the synergic effect of myeloid differential protein-2 (MD-2) on bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) may be a critical step during the LPS-TLR4 response signaling pathway. We performed a bioinformatic analysis on the MD-2 protein and identified the amino acid sequence NH2-FSKGKYKCV-COOH (K128-132) as a possible key sequence involved in the binding between MD-2 and LPS. We then screened a random phage display peptide library using this sequence as bait in order to identify antagonistic peptides. After 3 rounds of selection, 3 positive clones were identified. All 3 peptides were shown to inhibit, in a dose-dependent manner the production of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in human U937 and THP-1 cell lines as well as human peripheral blood monocytes stimulated by LPS. Only 2 of the 3 peptides were able to bind MD-2 directly as shown by sulfo-SBED biotin label transfer experiments. BALB/C mice were used to estimate the protection of these peptides from LPS challenge, and 2 of the 3 peptides (Lys-Thr-Val-Pro-Asp-Asn-His and Ile-Gly-Lys-Phe-Leu-Tyr-Arg) reduced mortality of the challenged mice from 100% to 53.8%. This study has demonstrated that interfering with the binding between MD-2 and LPS might be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating LPS-induced sepsis, and in doing so has identified 2 potential peptide candidates.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96 / chemistry
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96 / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factor RelA / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Ly96 protein, mouse
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96
  • NF-kappa B
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides
  • Tlr4 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha