Direct extracellular interaction between the early secreted antigen ESAT-6 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and TLR2 inhibits TLR signaling in macrophages

SK Pathak, S Basu, KK Basu, A Banerjee, S Pathak… - Nature …, 2007 - nature.com
SK Pathak, S Basu, KK Basu, A Banerjee, S Pathak, A Bhattacharyya, T Kaisho, M Kundu…
Nature immunology, 2007nature.com
Expression of early secreted antigenic target protein 6 (ESAT-6) by Mycobacterium
tuberculosis is associated with lower innate immune responses to infection. Here we show
that ESAT-6 inhibited activation of transcription factor NF-κB and interferon-regulatory factors
(IRFs) after Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling; inhibition of TLR signaling by ESAT-6 required
the kinase Akt. Direct binding of ESAT-6 to TLR2 activated Akt and prevented interaction
between the adaptor MyD88 and'downstream'kinase IRAK4, thus abrogating NF-κB …
Abstract
Expression of early secreted antigenic target protein 6 (ESAT-6) by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is associated with lower innate immune responses to infection. Here we show that ESAT-6 inhibited activation of transcription factor NF-κB and interferon-regulatory factors (IRFs) after Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling; inhibition of TLR signaling by ESAT-6 required the kinase Akt. Direct binding of ESAT-6 to TLR2 activated Akt and prevented interaction between the adaptor MyD88 and 'downstream' kinase IRAK4, thus abrogating NF-κB activation. The six carboxy-terminal amino acid residues of ESAT-6 were required and sufficient for the TLR2-mediated inhibitory effect. A critical function for the carboxy-terminal peptide of ESAT-6 in restricting MyD88-dependent TLR signaling emphasizes the possibility that mimetic inhibitory peptides could be used to restrict innate immune responses in situations in which prolonged TLR signaling has deleterious effects.
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