Bacterial peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein: a naturally occurring toll-like receptor 2 agonist that is shed into serum and has synergy with lipopolysaccharide.

Sepsis is initiated by interactions between microbial products and host inflammatory cells. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are central innate immune mediators of sepsis that recognize different components of microorganisms. Peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL) is a ubiquitous gram-negative bacterial outer-membrane protein that is shed by bacteria into the circulation of septic animals. We explored the inflammatory effects of purified PAL and of a naturally occurring form of PAL that is shed into serum. PAL is released into human serum by Escherichia coli bacteria in a form that induces cytokine production by macrophages and is tightly associated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). PAL activates inflammation through TLR2. PAL and LPS synergistically activate macrophages. These data suggest that PAL may play an important role in the pathogenesis of sepsis and imply that physiologically relevant PAL and LPS are shed into serum and act in concert to initiate inflammation in sepsis.

Murein lipoprotein, peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein, and outer membrane protein A are present in purified rough and smooth lipopolysaccharides.

Purified lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) have been used for many decades to gain insight into processes that occur during sepsis. Previous studies indicate that purified LPSs often contain trace protein contaminants. To identify protein contaminants of LPSs, we performed immunoblotting using, as antigen, purified LPS from various species of bacteria and, as primary antibodies, anti-murein lipoprotein (MLP), peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL), and outer membrane protein A (OmpA). MLP, PAL, and/or OmpA were detected in 10 of the 13 LPS preparations and were present in LPS from rough and smooth bacteria. PAL and MLP have been reported to stimulate inflammation. The studies indicate that PAL and MLP are common contaminants of purified LPS and raise the possibility that these contaminants may influence results of studies performed using purified LPS.

Bacterial peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein is released into the bloodstream in gram-negative sepsis and causes inflammation and death in mice.

Gram-negative bacterial sepsis commonly causes organ dysfunction and death in humans. Although circulating bacterial toxins trigger inflammation in sepsis, little is known about the composition of bacterial products released into the blood during sepsis or the contribution of various bacterial components to the pathogenesis of sepsis. We have shown that diverse Gram-negative bacteria release bacterial peptidoglycan-associated lipoprotein (PAL) into serum. The present studies explored release of PAL into the blood during sepsis and tested the hypothesis that PAL contributes to bacterial virulence and inflammation in Gram-negative sepsis. Released PAL was detected in the blood of 94% of mice following cecal ligation and puncture. Picomolar to nanomolar levels of PAL stimulated macrophages and splenocytes from lipopolysaccharide-hyporesponsive (C3H/HeJ) mice. Injection of PAL into C3H/HeJ mice stimulated production of serum cytokines and increased pulmonary and myocardial expression of inflammatory markers. PAL caused death in sensitized C3H/HeJ mice. Mutant Escherichia coli bacteria with reduced levels of PAL or truncated PAL were less virulent than wild-type bacteria, as indicated by higher survival rates and lower circulating levels of interleukin 6 and bacteria in a model of peritonitis in lipopolysaccharide-responsive mice. The studies suggest that PAL may be an important bacterial mediator of Gram-negative sepsis.