Multiple Immunosuppressive Effects of CpG-c41 on Intracellular TLR-Mediated Inflammation

Mediators Inflamm. 2017:2017:6541729. doi: 10.1155/2017/6541729. Epub 2017 Apr 30.

Abstract

A growing body of literature suggests that most chronic autoimmune diseases are associated with inappropriate inflammation mediated by Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3, TLR7/8, or TLR9. Therefore, research into blocking TLR activation to treat these disorders has become a hot topic. Here, we report the immunomodulatory properties of a nonstimulatory CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN), CpG-c41, which had previously only been known as a TLR9 antagonist. In this study, we found that both in vitro and in vivo CpG-c41 decreased levels of various proinflammatory factors that were induced by single activation or coactivation of intracellular TLRs, but not membrane-bound TLRs, no matter what downstream signal pathways the TLRs depend on. Moreover, CpG-c41 attenuated excessive inflammation in the imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like mouse model of skin inflammation by suppressing immune cell infiltration and release of inflammatory factors. We also found evidence that the immunosuppressive effects of CpG-c41 on other intracellular TLRs are mediated by a TLR9-independent mechanism. These results suggest that CpG-c41 acts as an upstream of signaling cascades, perhaps on the processes of ligand internalization and transfer. Taken together, these results suggest that CpG-c41 disrupts various aspects of intracellular TLR activation and provides a deeper insight into the regulation of innate immunity.

MeSH terms

  • Aminoquinolines / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Imiquimod
  • Immunity, Innate / physiology
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Inflammasomes / drug effects
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / therapeutic use*
  • RAW 264.7 Cells
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / agonists
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / agonists
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8 / agonists
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / agonists
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9 / metabolism
  • Zymosan / pharmacology

Substances

  • Aminoquinolines
  • CPG-oligonucleotide
  • Imidazoles
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Inflammasomes
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
  • Toll-Like Receptor 3
  • Toll-Like Receptor 7
  • Toll-Like Receptor 8
  • Toll-Like Receptor 9
  • Zymosan
  • Imiquimod
  • resiquimod