The role of MyD88 and TLR4 in the LPS-mimetic activity of Taxol

Eur J Immunol. 2001 Aug;31(8):2448-57. doi: 10.1002/1521-4141(200108)31:8<2448::aid-immu2448>3.0.co;2-n.

Abstract

Taxol can mimic bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by activating mouse macrophages in a cell cycle-independent, LPS antagonist-inhibitable manner. Macrophages from C3H/HeJ mice, which have a spontaneous mutation in Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), are hyporesponsive to both LPS and Taxol, suggesting that LPS and Taxol may share a signaling pathway involving TLR4. To determine whether TLR4 and its interacting adaptor molecule MyD88 are necessary for Taxol's LPS mimetic actions, we examined Taxol responses of primary macrophages from genetically defective mice lacking either TLR4 (C57BL/10ScNCr) or MyD88 (MyD88 knockout). When stimulated with Taxol, macrophages from wild-type mice responded robustly by secreting both TNF and NO, while macrophages from either TLR4-deficient C57BL/10ScNCr mice or MyD88 knockout mice produced only minimal amounts of TNF and NO. Taxol-induced NF-kappa B-driven luciferase activity was reduced after transfection of RAW 264.7 macrophages with a dominant negative version of mouse MyD88. Taxol-induced microtubule-associated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and NF-kappa B nuclear translocation were absent from TLR4-null macrophages, but were preserved in MyD88 knockout macrophages with a slight delay in kinetics. Neither Taxol-induced NF-kappa B activation, nor I kappa B degradation was affected by the presence of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors. These results suggest that Taxol and LPS not only share a TLR4/MyD88-dependent pathway in generating inflammatory mediators, but also share a TLR4-dependent/MyD88-independent pathway leading to activation of MAPK and NF-kappa B.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics
  • Antigens, Differentiation / metabolism*
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • I-kappa B Proteins / metabolism
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Macrophages / cytology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / enzymology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / deficiency
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microtubules / drug effects
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Molecular Mimicry*
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / deficiency
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Immunologic*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • I-kappa B Proteins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • NF-kappa B
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Nitric Oxide
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Paclitaxel