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Infection and Immunity, July 1999, p. 3215-3220, Vol. 67, No. 7
Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston
University, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
Received 24 March 1999/Accepted 2 April 1999
Bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]), a glycolipid
found in the outer membranes of gram-negative bacteria, induces the
secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor
alpha (TNF-
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Copyright © 1999, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Moesin Functions as a Lipopolysaccharide
Receptor on Human Monocytes
), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6 by
monocytes/macrophages. The secretion of these biologically active
compounds leads to multiple pathological conditions, such as septic
shock. There is substantial evidence that chronic exposure to LPS
mediates, at least in part, the tissue destruction associated with
gram-negative infection. CD14, a 55-kDa protein, has been identified as
an LPS receptor. In conjunction with a serum protein, LPS binding
protein (LBP), LPS-CD14 interactions mediate many LPS functions in the inflammatory response. However, CD14 lacks a cytoplasmic domain, or any
known signal transduction sequence motif, suggesting the existence of
another cell surface domain capable of transducing signals. In this
paper, we report a second, CD14-independent LPS binding site, which,
based on biological activity, appears to be a functional LPS receptor.
Cross-linking experiments were performed to identify LPS binding sites.
Two molecules were identified: a 55-kDa protein (CD14) and a second,
78-kDa band. Sequencing of the 78-kDa protein by mass spectroscopic
analysis revealed 100% homology with moesin (membrane-organizing
extension spike protein). Antibody to CD14 induced partial blocking of
the LPS response. However, antimoesin monoclonal antibody completely
blocked the LPS-induced TNF-
response in human monocytes, without
blocking CD14 binding of LPS. Irrelevant isotype controls had no
effect. Additional experiments were performed to evaluate the
specificity of the antimoesin blocking. Separate experiments evaluated
antimoesin effects on monocyte chemotaxis, IL-1 production in response
to IL-1 stimulation, and TNF-
secretion in response to
Staphylococcus aureus stimulation. Antimoesin blocked only
LPS-mediated events. The data suggest that moesin functions as an
independent LPS receptor on human monocytes. The role of moesin in
transduction of CD14-mediated signals is discussed.
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Boston
University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 100 East Newton St.,
Boston, MA 02118. Phone: (617) 638-5227. Fax: (617) 639-4799. E-mail:
tvandyke{at}bu.edu.
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