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Borio A, Holgado A, Passegger C, Strobl H, Beyaert R, Heine H, Zamyatina A. Exploring Species-Specificity in TLR4/MD-2 Inhibition with Amphiphilic Lipid A Mimicking Glycolipids. Molecules 2023; 28:5948. [PMID: 37630200 PMCID: PMC10459247 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28165948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2) complex is a key receptor of the innate immune system and a major driver of inflammation that is responsible for the multifaceted defense response to Gram-negative infections. However, dysfunction in the tightly regulated mechanisms of TLR4-mediated signaling leads to the uncontrolled upregulation of local and systemic inflammation, often resulting in acute or chronic disease. Therefore, the TLR4/MD-2 receptor complex is an attractive target for the design and development of anti-inflammatory therapies which aim to control the unrestrained activation of TLR4-mediated signaling. Complex structure-activity relationships and species-specificity behind ligand recognition by the TLR4/MD-2 complex complicate the development of MD-2-specific TLR4 antagonists. The restriction of the conformational flexibility of the disaccharide polar head group is one of the key structural features of the newly developed lipid A-mimicking glycophospholipids, which are potential inhibitors of TLR4-mediated inflammation. Since phosphorylation has a crucial influence on MD-2-ligand interaction, glycolipids with variable numbers and positioning of phosphate groups were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit TLR4-mediated pro-inflammatory signaling in human and murine immune cells. A bis-phosphorylated glycolipid was found to have nanomolar antagonist activity on human TLR4 while acting as a partial agonist on murine TLR4. The glycolipid inhibited mTLR4/MD-2-mediated cytokine release, acting as an antagonist in the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but at the same time induced low-level cytokine production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Borio
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
| | - Aurora Holgado
- Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Department for Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christina Passegger
- Division of Immunology and Pathophysiology, Medical University Graz, Heinrichstraße 31, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Herbert Strobl
- Division of Immunology and Pathophysiology, Medical University Graz, Heinrichstraße 31, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Rudi Beyaert
- Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, VIB-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Department for Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Holger Heine
- Research Group Innate Immunity, Priority Area Chronic Lung Diseases, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Parkallee 22, 23845 Borstel, Germany
| | - Alla Zamyatina
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
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Heine H, Zamyatina A. Therapeutic Targeting of TLR4 for Inflammation, Infection, and Cancer: A Perspective for Disaccharide Lipid A Mimetics. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 16:23. [PMID: 36678520 PMCID: PMC9864529 DOI: 10.3390/ph16010023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway plays a central role in the prompt defense against infectious challenge and provides immediate response to Gram-negative bacterial infection. The TLR4/MD-2 complex can sense and respond to various pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) being the most potent and the most frequently occurring activator of the TLR4-mediated inflammation. TLR4 is believed to be both a friend and foe since improperly regulated TLR4 signaling can result in the overactivation of immune responses leading to sepsis, acute lung injury, or pathologic chronic inflammation involved in cancer and autoimmune disease. TLR4 is also considered a legitimate target for vaccine adjuvant development since its activation can boost the adaptive immune responses. The dual action of the TLR4 complex justifies the efforts in the development of both TLR4 antagonists as antisepsis drug candidates or remedies for chronic inflammatory diseases and TLR4 agonists as vaccine adjuvants or immunotherapeutics. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the biochemical evidences for possible pharmacologic applications of TLR4 ligands as therapeutics and report our systematic studies on the design, synthesis, and immunobiological evaluation of carbohydrate-based TLR4 antagonists with nanomolar affinity for MD-2 as well as disaccharide-based TLR4 agonists with picomolar affinity for the TLR4/MD-2 complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Heine
- Research Group Innate Immunity, Research Center Borstel—Leibniz Lung Center, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Parkallee 22, 23845 Borstel, Germany
| | - Alla Zamyatina
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190 Vienna, Austria
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Garcia-Vello P, Di Lorenzo F, Zucchetta D, Zamyatina A, De Castro C, Molinaro A. Lipopolysaccharide lipid A: A promising molecule for new immunity-based therapies and antibiotics. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 230:107970. [PMID: 34454000 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are the main components of the external leaflet of the Gram-negative outer membrane and consist of three different moieties: lipid A, core oligosaccharide, and O-polysaccharide. The lipid A is a glucosamine disaccharide with different levels of acylation and phosphorylation, beside carrying, in certain cases, additional substituents on the sugar backbone. It is also the main immunostimulatory part of the LPS, as its recognition by the host immune system represents a fundamental event for detection of perilous microorganisms. Moreover, an uncontrolled immune response caused by a large amount of circulating LPS can lead to dramatic outcomes for human health, such as septic shock. The immunostimulant properties of an LPS incredibly vary depending on lipid A chemical structure, and for this reason, natural and synthetic variants of the lipid A are under study to develop new drugs that mimic or antagonise its natural effects. Here, we review past and recent findings on the lipid A as an antibiotic target and immune-therapeutic molecule, with a special attention on the crucial role of the chemical structure and its exploitation for conceiving novel strategies for treatment of several immune-related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Garcia-Vello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Flaviana Di Lorenzo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Daniele Zucchetta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alla Zamyatina
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cristina De Castro
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Italy
| | - Antonio Molinaro
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.
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Heine H, Adanitsch F, Peternelj TT, Haegman M, Kasper C, Ittig S, Beyaert R, Jerala R, Zamyatina A. Tailored Modulation of Cellular Pro-inflammatory Responses With Disaccharide Lipid A Mimetics. Front Immunol 2021; 12:631797. [PMID: 33815382 PMCID: PMC8012497 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.631797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Pro-inflammatory signaling mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation-2 (MD-2) complex plays a crucial role in the instantaneous protection against infectious challenge and largely contributes to recovery from Gram-negative infection. Activation of TLR4 also boosts the adaptive immunity which is implemented in the development of vaccine adjuvants by application of minimally toxic TLR4 activating ligands. The modulation of pro-inflammatory responses via the TLR4 signaling pathway was found beneficial for management of acute and chronic inflammatory disorders including asthma, allergy, arthritis, Alzheimer disease pathology, sepsis, and cancer. The TLR4/MD-2 complex can recognize the terminal motif of Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)—a glycophospholipid lipid A. Although immense progress in understanding the molecular basis of LPS-induced TLR4-mediated signaling has been achieved, gradual, and predictable TLR4 activation by structurally defined ligands has not yet been attained. We report on controllable modulation of cellular pro-inflammatory responses by application of novel synthetic glycolipids—disaccharide-based lipid A mimetics (DLAMs) having picomolar affinity for TLR4/MD-2. Using crystal structure inspired design we have developed endotoxin mimetics where the inherently flexible β(1 → 6)-linked diglucosamine backbone of lipid A is replaced by a conformationally restricted α,α-(1↔1)-linked disaccharide scaffold. The tertiary structure of the disaccharide skeleton of DLAMs mirrors the 3-dimensional shape of TLR4/MD-2 bound E. coli lipid A. Due to exceptional conformational rigidity of the sugar scaffold, the specific 3D organization of DLAM must be preserved upon interaction with proteins. These structural factors along with specific acylation and phosphorylation pattern can ensure picomolar affinity for TLR4 and permit efficient dimerization of TLR4/MD-2/DLAM complexes. Since the binding pose of lipid A in the binding pocket of MD-2 (±180°) is crucial for the expression of biological activity, the chemical structure of DLAMs was designed to permit a predefined binding orientation in the binding groove of MD-2, which ensured tailored and species-independent (human and mice) TLR4 activation. Manipulating phosphorylation and acylation pattern at the sugar moiety facing the secondary dimerization interface allowed for adjustable modulation of the TLR4-mediated signaling. Tailored modulation of cellular pro-inflammatory responses by distinct modifications of the molecular structure of DLAMs was attained in primary human and mouse immune cells, lung epithelial cells and TLR4 transfected HEK293 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holger Heine
- Research Group Innate Immunity, Research Center Borstel - Leibniz Lung Center, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Borstel, Germany
| | - Florian Adanitsch
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tina Tinkara Peternelj
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mira Haegman
- Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Center for Inflammation Research, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Simon Ittig
- Biozentrum University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Rudi Beyaert
- Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Center for Inflammation Research, VIB, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Roman Jerala
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alla Zamyatina
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
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Borio A, Holgado A, Garate JA, Beyaert R, Heine H, Zamyatina A. Disaccharide-Based Anionic Amphiphiles as Potent Inhibitors of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation. ChemMedChem 2018; 13:2317-2331. [PMID: 30276970 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite significant advances made in the last decade in the understanding of molecular mechanisms of sepsis and in the development of clinically relevant therapies, sepsis remains the leading cause of mortality in intensive care units with increasing incidence worldwide. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-a transmembrane pattern-recognition receptor responsible for propagating the immediate immune response to Gram-negative bacterial infection-plays a central role in the pathogenesis of sepsis and chronic inflammation-related disorders. TLR4 is complexed with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sensing protein myeloid differentiation-2 (MD-2) which represents a preferred target for establishing new anti-inflammatory treatment strategies. Herein we report the development, facile synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel disaccharide-based TLR4⋅MD-2 antagonists with potent anti-endotoxic activity at micromolar concentrations. A series of synthetic anionic glycolipids entailing amide-linked β-ketoacyl lipid residues was prepared in a straightforward manner by using a single orthogonally protected nonreducing diglucosamine scaffold. Suppression of the LPS-induced release of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor was monitored and confirmed in human immune cells (MNC and THP1) and mouse macrophages. Structure-activity relationship studies and molecular dynamics simulations revealed the structural basis for the high-affinity interaction between anionic glycolipids and MD-2, and highlighted two compounds as leads for the development of potential anti-inflammatory therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Borio
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
| | - Aurora Holgado
- Department for Biomedical Molecular Biology, Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, Ghent University, Center for Inflammation Research, VIB, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jose Antonio Garate
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso (CINV), Universidad de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Rudi Beyaert
- Department for Biomedical Molecular Biology, Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, Ghent University, Center for Inflammation Research, VIB, Technologiepark 927, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Holger Heine
- Research Group Innate Immunity, Research Center Borstel-Leibniz Lung Center, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), German Center for Lung Disease (DZL), Parkallee 22, 23845, Borstel, Germany
| | - Alla Zamyatina
- Department of Chemistry, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Muthgasse 18, 1190, Vienna, Austria
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Niu X, Yu Y, Guo H, Yang Y, Wang G, Sun L, Gao Y, Yu Z, Wang H. Molecular modeling reveals the inhibition mechanism and binding mode of ursolic acid to TLR4-MD2. COMPUT THEOR CHEM 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.comptc.2017.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Li WJ, Tang XF, Shuai XX, Jiang CJ, Liu X, Wang LF, Yao YF, Nie SP, Xie MY. Mannose Receptor Mediates the Immune Response to Ganoderma atrum Polysaccharides in Macrophages. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2017; 65:348-357. [PMID: 27931102 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.6b04888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The ability of mannose receptor (MR) to recognize the carbohydrate structures is well-established. Here, we reported that MR was crucial for the immune response to a Ganoderma atrum polysaccharide (PSG-1), as evidenced by elevation of MR in association with increase of phagocytosis and concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in normal macrophages. Elevation of MR triggered by PSG-1 also led to control lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-triggered inflammatory response via the increase of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and inhibition of phagocytosis and IL-1β. Anti-MR antibody partly attenuated PSG-1-mediated anti-inflammatory responses, while it could not affect TNF-α secretion, suggesting that another receptor was involved in PSG-1-triggered immunomodulatory effects. MR and toll-like receptor (TLR)4 coordinated the influences on the TLR4-mediated signaling cascade by the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway in LPS-stimulated macrophages subjected to PSG-1. Collectively, immune response to PSG-1 required recognition by MR in macrophages. The NF-κB pathway served as a central role for the coordination of MR and TLR4 to elicit immune response to PSG-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Juan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University , 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330047, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Fang Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University , 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330047, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Xue Shuai
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University , 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330047, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng-Jia Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University , 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330047, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University , 999 Xuefu Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, People's Republic of China
| | - Le-Feng Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanchang University , 999 Xuefu Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330031, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Fei Yao
- Chinese Liberation Army No. 94 Hospital , 1028 Jinggangshan Avenue, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shao-Ping Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University , 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330047, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming-Yong Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Nanchang University , 235 Nanjing East Road, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330047, People's Republic of China
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The relationship between toll like receptor 4 gene rs4986790 and rs4986791 polymorphisms and sepsis susceptibility: A meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:38947. [PMID: 27958344 PMCID: PMC5154189 DOI: 10.1038/srep38947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidences have demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) represents the important etiologic factor for sepsis. Some previous studies have reported the relationship between common polymorphisms rs4986790 and rs4986791 in the coding gene for this receptor and the susceptibility to sepsis, but there were distinct divergences between those findings. We therefore designed this meta-analysis incorporated 28 published articles containing 6,537 sepsis patients and 8,832 controls for a more comprehensive conclusion on this matter. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (95% CIs) were calculated to evaluate the association of toll like receptor 4 gene polymorphisms rs4986790 and rs4986791 with sepsis risk. Heterogeneity between included studies was inspected using Q test, and sensitivity analysis was implemented via sequential deletion of each included study to investigate the stability of overall estimates. Funnel plot and Egger’s test were adopted to examine publication bias across selected studies. We found no significant association for either the polymorphism rs4986790 or rs4986791 with sepsis susceptibility in total analysis under any genetic models. Neither did we after combining these two polymorphisms. The results of this meta-analysis suggest that the rs4986790 and rs4986791 polymorphisms in toll like receptor 4 gene may have no statistically significant influence on sepsis susceptibility.
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Morrison LJ, Parker WR, Holden DD, Henderson JC, Boll JM, Trent MS, Brodbelt JS. UVliPiD: A UVPD-Based Hierarchical Approach for De Novo Characterization of Lipid A Structures. Anal Chem 2016; 88:1812-20. [PMID: 26728944 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b04098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The lipid A domain of the endotoxic lipopolysaccharide layer of Gram-negative bacteria is comprised of a diglucosamine backbone to which a variable number of variable length fatty acyl chains are anchored. Traditional characterization of these tails and their linkages by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) or mass spectrometry is time-consuming and necessitates databases of pre-existing structures for structural assignment. Here, we introduce an automated de novo approach for characterization of lipid A structures that is completely database-independent. A hierarchical decision-tree MS(n) method is used in conjunction with a hybrid activation technique, UVPDCID, to acquire characteristic fragmentation patterns of lipid A variants from a number of Gram-negative bacteria. Structural assignments are derived from integration of key features from three to five spectra and automated interpretation is achieved in minutes without the need for pre-existing information or candidate structures. The utility of this strategy is demonstrated for a mixture of lipid A structures from an enzymatically modified E. coli lipid A variant. A total of 27 lipid A structures were discovered, many of which were isomeric, showcasing the need for a rapid de novo approach to lipid A characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay J Morrison
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas , Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - W Ryan Parker
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas , Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Dustin D Holden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas , Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Jeremy C Henderson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia , Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Joseph M Boll
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas , Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - M Stephen Trent
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia , Athens, Georgia 30602, United States
| | - Jennifer S Brodbelt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas , Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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