CD14 dependence of TLR4 endocytosis and TRIF signaling displays ligand specificity and is dissociable in endotoxin tolerance

Abstract

Dimerization of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD2) heterodimers is critical for both MyD88-and TIRdomain-containing adapter-inducing IFN-β (TRIF)-mediated signaling pathways. Recently, Zanoni et al. [(2011) Cell 147(4):868-880] reported that cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) is required for LPS-/Escherichia coli-induced TLR4 internalization into endosomes and activation of TRIF-mediated signaling in macrophages. We confirmed their findings with LPS but report here that CD14 is not required for receptor endocytosis and downstream signaling mediated by TLR4/MD2 agonistic antibody (UT12) and synthetic small-molecule TLR4 ligands (1Z105) in murine macrophages. CD14 deficiency completely ablated the LPS-induced TBK1/IRF3 signaling axis that mediates production of IFN-β in murine macrophages without affecting MyD88-mediated signaling, including NF-κB, MAPK activation, and TNF-α and IL-6 production. However, neither the MyD88-nor TRIF-signaling pathways and their associated cytokine profiles were altered in the absence of CD14 in UT12-or 1Z105-treated murine macrophages. Eritoran (E5564), a lipid A antagonist that binds the MD2 "pocket," completely blocked LPS-and 1Z105-driven, but not UT12-induced, TLR4 dimerization and endocytosis. Furthermore, TLR4 endocytosis is induced in macrophages tolerized by exposure to either LPS or UT12 and is independent of CD14. These data indicate that TLR4 receptor endocytosis and the TRIF-signaling pathway are dissociable and that TLR4 internalization in macrophages can be induced by UT12, 1Z105, and during endotoxin tolerance in the absence of CD14. T oll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling plays a crucial role in host defense against Gram-negative bacteria by recognizing the outer membrane component, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1-3). TLR4 signaling is initiated by transfer of an LPS monomer from LPS binding protein (LBP) to cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) (GPI-linked or soluble). In turn, CD14 transfers monomeric LPS to myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2), a protein that associates noncovalently with TLR4 (4). Appropriate ligand binding to MD2 results in dimerization of two TLR4/MD2 complexes (4). TLR4 is unique in that it is the only TLR that activates both myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) and TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing IFN-β (TRIF)-dependent signaling pathways (5, 6). MyD88-mediated, TLR4 signaling occurs mainly at plasma membranes and involves IL-1R-associated kinases phosphorylation, association of TNF-receptor-associated factor 6, and downstream signaling that results in NF-κB activation and induction of proinflammatory mediators such as TNF-α and IL-6 (7). In contrast, TRIF-mediated signaling in response to LPS occurs at the endosomal membrane after internalization of the TLR4 that, in turn, activates IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), resulting in production of IFN-β, IP-10, and other IRF-3-dependent genes, as well as delayed NF-κB activation (8). Recent studies have shown that the endocytosis of TLR4 is tight...

Porphyromonas gingivalis Outer Membrane Vesicles Induce Selective Tumor Necrosis Factor Tolerance in a Toll-Like Receptor 4- and mTOR-Dependent Manner

“…When surface CD14 is degraded by gingipains, tolerance can become solely dependent on TLR4 signaling and, thus, can be reversed by anti-TLR4. In contrast, endotoxin tolerance induced by Salmonella-derived LPS is additionally mediated by TLR4-independent CD14 signaling and therefore might not be inhibited solely by TLR4 antagonism (62,63).…”

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-binding protein stimulates CD14-dependent Toll-like receptor 4 internalization and LPS-induced TBK1–IKKϵ–IRF3 axis activation

“…In addition, the dynasore appeared toxic to the cells at this concentration (data not shown). Previous studies showed the involvement of dynamin in TLR4 internalization (12,40), and the dynamin-dependent process is a crucial part of the LBP-mediated TLR4 internalization mechanism; however, it is difficult to completely exclude the possibility of a dynamin-independent process. As reported previously (13,24), membrane expression of CD14 was required for TLR4 internalization.…”

“…LPS-induced TLR4 internalization was reportedly mediated by GTPase dynamin, which is involved in most endocytic processes (12,40). Therefore, we investigated whether dynamin is also involved in the process of LBP-mediated TLR4 internalization.…”

ADAM17-Mediated Ectodomain Shedding of Toll-Like Receptor 4 as a Negative Feedback Regulation in Lipopolysaccharide-Activated Aortic Endothelial Cells

“…Low concentrations of LPS require CD14 to activate MyD88-dependent pathway, but high concentrations (>10 ng/ml) of LPS activate MyD88-dependent pathway even in the absence of CD14 [13, 14]. To induce endocytosis of activated TLR4 linked to activation of TRAM-TRIF pathway, however, LPS requires CD14 even at high concentrations [13, 14]. …”