Cutting Edge: T Cells Respond to Lipopolysaccharide Innately via TLR4 Signaling

Authors:
Zanin-Zhorov A, Tal-Lapidot G, Cahalon L, Cohen-Sfady M, Pevsner-Fischer M, Lider O, Cohen IR
In:
Source: J Immunol
Publication Date: (2007)
Issue: 179(1): 41-4
Research Area:
Immunotherapy / Hematology
Cells used in publication:
T cell, human peripheral blood unstim.
Species: human
Tissue Origin: blood
Platform:
Nucleofector® I/II/2b
Abstract
LPS, a molecule produced by Gram-negative bacteria, is known to activate both innate immune cells such as macrophages and adaptive immune B cells via TLR4 signaling. Although TLR4 is also expressed on T cells, LPS was observed not to affect T cell proliferation or cytokine secretion. We now report, however, that LPS can induce human T cells to adhere to fibronectin via TLR4 signaling. This response to LPS was confirmed in mouse T cells; functional TLR4 and MyD88 were required, but T cells from TLR2 knockout mice could respond to LPS. The human T cell response to LPS depended on protein kinase C signaling and involved the phosphorylation of the proline-rich tyrosine kinase (Pyk-2) and p38. LPS also up-regulated the T cell expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3, which led to inhibition of T cell chemotaxis toward the chemokine stromal cell-derived factor 1alpha (CXCL12). Thus, LPS, through TLR4 signaling, can affect T cell behavior in inflammation.