Toll-like receptor-2/6 and Toll-like receptor-9 agonists suppress viral replication but not airway hyperreactivity in guinea pigs

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2013 Jun;48(6):790-6. doi: 10.1165/rcmb.2012-0498OC.

Abstract

Respiratory virus infections cause airway hyperreactivity (AHR). Preventative strategies for virus-induced AHR remain limited. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been suggested as a therapeutic target because of their central role in triggering antiviral immune responses. Previous studies showed that concurrent treatment with TLR2/6 and TLR9 agonists reduced lethality and the microbial burden in murine models of bacterial and viral pneumonia. This study investigated the effects of TLR2/6 and TLR9 agonist pretreatment on parainfluenza virus pneumonia and virus-induced AHR in guinea pigs in vivo. Synthetic TLR2/6 lipopeptide agonist Pam₂CSK₄ and Class C oligodeoxynucleotide TLR9 agonist ODN2395, administered in combination 24 hours before virus infection, significantly reduced viral replication in the lung. Despite a fivefold reduction in viral titers, concurrent TLR2/6 and TLR9 agonist pretreatment did not prevent virus-induced AHR or virus-induced inhibitory M2 muscarinic receptor dysfunction. Interestingly, the TLR agonists independently caused non-M2-dependent AHR. These data confirm the therapeutic antiviral potential of TLR agonists, while suggesting that virus inhibition may be insufficient to prevent virus-induced airway pathophysiology. Furthermore, TLR agonists independently cause AHR, albeit through a distinctly different mechanism from that of parainfluenza virus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / physiopathology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / virology*
  • Bronchoconstriction
  • Drug Synergism
  • Female
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Lipopeptides / pharmacology
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / virology
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / pharmacology
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M3 / drug effects
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M3 / immunology
  • Respirovirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Respirovirus Infections / immunology
  • Respirovirus Infections / physiopathology
  • Respirovirus Infections / virology
  • Sendai virus / immunology
  • Sendai virus / physiology
  • Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / agonists*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 6 / agonists*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 6 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / agonists*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / immunology
  • Virus Replication / drug effects*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • CpG ODN 2395
  • Lipopeptides
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Pam2CSK4 lipopeptide
  • Receptor, Muscarinic M3
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2
  • Toll-Like Receptor 6
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9
  • Acetylcholine