The matrix component biglycan is proinflammatory and signals through Toll-like receptors 4 and 2 in macrophages

• Published in: The Journal of clinical investigation Vol. 115; no. 8; pp. 2223 - 2233
• Main Authors: Schaefer, Liliana, Babelova, Andrea, Kiss, Eva, Hausser, Heinz-J, Baliova, Martina, Krzyzankova, Miroslava, Marsche, Gunther, Young, Marian F, Mihalik, Daniel, Götte, Martin, Malle, Ernst, Schaefer, Roland M, Gröne, Hermann-Josef
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Clinical Investigation 01-08-2005
• Subjects: Adapter proteins; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Animals; Antigens, Differentiation - genetics; Antigens, Differentiation - metabolism; Biglycan; Biomedical research; Cyclin-dependent kinases; Cytokines; Extracellular Matrix - genetics; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Extracellular Matrix Proteins; Gram-positive bacteria; Inflammation; Inflammation - genetics; Inflammation - metabolism; Kinases; Lipopolysaccharides - toxicity; Lung - metabolism; Lung - pathology; Macrophages, Alveolar - metabolism; Macrophages, Alveolar - pathology; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; NF-kappa B - metabolism; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; Pathogens; Plasma; Proteoglycans - genetics; Proteoglycans - metabolism; Receptors, Cell Surface - genetics; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; Receptors, Immunologic - genetics; Receptors, Immunologic - metabolism; Sepsis; Sepsis - chemically induced; Sepsis - metabolism; Sepsis - pathology; Signal transduction; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Signal Transduction - genetics; Toll-Like Receptor 2; Toll-Like Receptor 4; Toll-Like Receptors; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis; Zymosan - toxicity
• ISSN: 0021-9738; 1558-8238
• DOI: 10.1172/jci23755

Biglycan, a small leucine-rich proteoglycan, is a ubiquitous ECM component; however, its biological role has not been elucidated in detail. Here we show that biglycan acts in macrophages as an endogenous ligand of TLR4 and TLR2, which mediate innate immunity, leading to rapid activation of p38, ERK, and NF-kappaB and thereby stimulating the expression of TNF-alpha and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2). In agreement, the stimulatory effects of biglycan are significantly reduced in TLR4-mutant (TLR4-M), TLR2-/-, and myeloid differentiation factor 88-/- (MyD88-/-) macrophages and completely abolished in TLR2-/-/TLR4-M macrophages. Biglycan-null mice have a considerable survival benefit in LPS- or zymosan-induced sepsis due to lower levels of circulating TNF-alpha and reduced infiltration of mononuclear cells in the lung, which cause less end-organ damage. Importantly, when stimulated by LPS-induced proinflammatory factors, macrophages themselves are able to synthesize biglycan. Thus, biglycan, upon release from the ECM or from macrophages, can boost inflammation by signaling through TLR4 and TLR2, thereby enhancing the synthesis of TNF-alpha and MIP-2. Our results provide evidence for what is, to our knowledge, a novel role of the matrix component biglycan as a signaling molecule and a crucial proinflammatory factor. These findings are potentially relevant for the development of new strategies in the treatment of sepsis.