Brucella β 1,2 cyclic glucan is an activator of human and mouse dendritic cells

PLoS Pathog. 2012;8(11):e1002983. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002983. Epub 2012 Nov 15.

Abstract

Bacterial cyclic glucans are glucose polymers that concentrate within the periplasm of alpha-proteobacteria. These molecules are necessary to maintain the homeostasis of the cell envelope by contributing to the osmolarity of Gram negative bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that Brucella β 1,2 cyclic glucans are potent activators of human and mouse dendritic cells. Dendritic cells activation by Brucella β 1,2 cyclic glucans requires TLR4, MyD88 and TRIF, but not CD14. The Brucella cyclic glucans showed neither toxicity nor immunogenicity compared to LPS and triggered antigen-specific CD8(+) T cell responses in vivo. These cyclic glucans also enhanced antigen-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell responses including cross-presentation by different human DC subsets. Brucella β 1,2 cyclic glucans increased the memory CD4(+) T cell responses of blood mononuclear cells exposed to recombinant fusion proteins composed of anti-CD40 antibody and antigens from both hepatitis C virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Thus cyclic glucans represent a new class of adjuvants, which might contribute to the development of effective antimicrobial therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / immunology
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic*
  • Animals
  • Brucella / chemistry
  • Brucella / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Glucans / chemistry
  • Glucans / immunology*
  • Glucans / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / genetics
  • Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / genetics
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / immunology

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport
  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Glucans
  • Lipopolysaccharide Receptors
  • MYD88 protein, human
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • TICAM-1 protein, mouse
  • TICAM1 protein, human
  • TLR4 protein, human
  • Tlr4 protein, mouse
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE32023