ST2 negatively regulates TLR2 signaling, but is not required for bacterial lipoprotein-induced tolerance

J Immunol. 2010 May 15;184(10):5802-8. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0904127. Epub 2010 Apr 16.

Abstract

Activation of TLR signaling is critical for host innate immunity against bacterial infection. Previous studies reported that the ST2 receptor, a member of the Toll/IL-1 receptor superfamily, functions as a negative regulator of TLR4 signaling and maintains LPS tolerance. However, it is undetermined whether ST2 negatively regulates TLR2 signaling and furthermore, whether a TLR2 agonist, bacterial lipoprotein (BLP)-induced tolerance is dependent on ST2. In this study, we show that BLP stimulation-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines and immunocomplex formation of TLR2-MyD88 and MyD88-IL-1R-associated kinase (IRAK) were significantly enhanced in ST2-deficient macrophages compared with those in wild-type controls. Furthermore, overexpression of ST2 dose-dependently attenuated BLP-induced NF-kappaB activation, suggesting a negative regulatory role of ST2 in TLR2 signaling. A moderate but significantly attenuated production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 on a second BLP stimulation was observed in BLP-pretreated, ST2-deficient macrophages, which is associated with substantially reduced IRAK-1 protein expression and downregulated TLR2-MyD88 and MyD88-IRAK immunocomplex formation. ST2-deficient mice, when pretreated with a nonlethal dose of BLP, benefitted from an improved survival against a subsequent lethal BLP challenge, indicating BLP tolerance develops in the absence of the ST2 receptor. Taken together, our results demonstrate that ST2 acts as a negative regulator of TLR2 signaling, but is not required for BLP-induced tolerance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance* / genetics
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein
  • Lipoproteins / physiology*
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / immunology
  • Macrophages, Peritoneal / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Receptors, Interleukin / deficiency
  • Receptors, Interleukin / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin / physiology*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / agonists
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / physiology

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Il1rl1 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Like 1 Protein
  • Lipoproteins
  • Receptors, Interleukin
  • Tlr2 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2