The recessive mutation 'Heedless' (hdl) was detected in third-generation N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-mutated mice that showed defective responses to microbial inducers. Macrophages from Heedless homozygotes signaled by the MyD88-dependent pathway in response to rough lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipid A, but not in response to smooth LPS. In addition, the Heedless mutation prevented TRAM-TRIF-dependent signaling in response to all LPS chemotypes. Heedless also abolished macrophage responses to vesicular stomatitis virus and substantially inhibited responses to specific ligands for the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)-TLR6 heterodimer. The Heedless phenotype was positionally ascribed to a premature stop codon in Cd14. Our data suggest that the TLR4-MD-2 complex distinguishes LPS chemotypes, but CD14 nullifies this distinction. Thus, the TLR4-MD-2 complex receptor can function in two separate modes: one in which full signaling occurs and one limited to MyD88-dependent signaling.

Allergies to nickel (Ni(2+)) are the most frequent cause of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) in industrialized countries. The efficient development of CHS requires both a T lymphocyte-specific signal and a proinflammatory signal. Here we show that Ni(2+) triggered an inflammatory response by directly activating human Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Ni(2+)-induced TLR4 activation was species-specific, as mouse TLR4 could not generate this response. Studies with mutant TLR4 proteins revealed that the non-conserved histidines 456 and 458 of human TLR4 are required for activation by Ni(2+) but not by the natural ligand lipopolysaccharide. Accordingly, transgenic expression of human TLR4 in TLR4-deficient mice allowed efficient sensitization to Ni(2+) and elicitation of CHS. Our data implicate site-specific human TLR4 inhibition as a potential strategy for therapeutic intervention in CHS that would not affect vital immune responses.

Presenilin-1 (PS1) facilitates ␥-secretase cleavage of the ␤-amyloid precursor protein and the intramembraneous cleavage of Notch1. Although Alzheimer's diseaseassociated mutations in the homologous presenilin (PS2) gene elevate amyloid ␤-peptide (A␤42) production like PS1 mutations, here we demonstrate that a gene ablation of PS2 (unlike that of PS1) in mice does not result in a severe phenotype resembling that of Notchablated animals. To investigate the amyloidogenic function of PS2 more directly, we mutagenized a conserved aspartate at position 366 to alanine, because the corresponding residue of PS1 is known to be required for its amyloidogenic function. Cells expressing the PS2 D366A mutation exhibit significant deficits in proteolytic processing of ␤-amyloid precursor protein indicating a defect in ␥-secretase activity. The reduced ␥-secretase activity results in the almost complete inhibition of A␤ and p3 production in cells stably expressing PS2 D366A, whereas cells overexpressing the wild-type PS2 cDNA produce robust levels of A␤ and p3. Using highly sensitive in vivo assays, we demonstrate that the PS2 D366A mutation not only blocks ␥-secretase activity but also inactivates PS2 activity in Notch signaling by inhibiting the proteolytic release of the cytoplasmic Notch1 domain. These data suggest that PS2 is functionally involved in A␤ production and Notch signaling by facilitating similar proteolytic cleavages.

Lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin, LPS) is a major recognition marker for the detection of gram-negative bacteria by the host and a powerful initiator of the inflammatory response to infection. Using S-and R-form LPS from wild-type and R-mutants of Salmonella and E. coli, we show that R-form LPS readily activates mouse cells expressing the signaling receptor Toll-like receptor 4/myeloid differentiation protein 2 (TLR4/MD-2), while the S-form requires further the help of the LPS-binding proteins CD14 and LBP, which limits its activating capacity. Therefore, the R-form LPS under physiological conditions recruits a larger spectrum of cells in endotoxic reactions than S-form LPS. We also show that soluble CD14 at high concentrations enables CD14-negative cells to respond to S-form LPS. The presented in vitro data are corroborated by an in vivo study measuring TNF-a levels in response to injection of R-and S-form LPS in mice. Since the R-form LPS constitutes ubiquitously part of the total LPS present in all wild-type bacteria its contribution to the innate immune response and pathophysiology of infection is much higher than anticipated during the last half century.Supporting information for this article is available at http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2040/2006/35593_pdf IntroductionThe interaction of highly conserved microbial constituents with the innate immune system forms the basis of recognition of and reaction against intruding pathogens in mammals. One such constituent is lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin, LPS), a major recognition marker common to gram-negative bacteria [1][2][3], a large group comprising important human pathogens as well as commensals. Thus, the interaction of LPS with cells of the innate immune system leads to the formation and release of endogenous mediators initiating inflammatory and immune responses essential for an antibacterial defense [3,4]. This primarily protective mechanism may become overshadowed by an acute pathophysiological response with the typical clinical symptoms of septic shock that frequently follows the release of inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a during infection [5][6][7].Innate immunity * Both authors contributed equally to this work. [10]. Binding of allergen to its specific IgE on the surface of MC results in an immediate release of preformed pro-inflammatory mediators (e.g., histamine, TNF-a and proteases) from cytoplasmic granules (degranulation) [11] and a later release of de novo synthesized arachidonic acid metabolites and various cytokines like interleukin 6 (IL-6), TNF-a, and chemokines [10,11]. Unlike allergens, LPS induces no degranulation of MC, but like allergens, it stimulates the de novo synthesis and release of cytokines in these cells [9].Activation of cells by LPS is mediated by the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a member of the highly conserved protein family of TLR, which are specialized in the recognition of microbial components. In mice, defects in TLR4 result in LPS unresponsiveness [12]. For functional interaction with LP...