Mycobacterial lipoarabinomannans modulate cytokine production in human T helper cells by interfering with raft/microdomain signalling

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2005 Jan;62(2):179-87. doi: 10.1007/s00018-004-4404-5.

Abstract

Lipoarabinomannans (LAMs) are major lipoglycans of the mycobacterial envelope and constitute immunodominant epitopes of mycobacteria. In this paper, we show that mannose-capped (ManLAM) and non-mannose-capped (PILAM) mycobacterial lipoglycans insert into T helper cell rafts without apparent binding to known receptors. T helper cells modified by the insertion of PILAM responded to CD3 cross-linking by decreasing type 1 (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and increasing type 2 (IL-4 and IL-5) cytokine production. Modification by the mannose-capped ManLAMs had similar, but more limited effects on T helper cell cytokine production. When incorporated into isolated rafts, PILAMs modulated membrane-associated kinases in a dose-dependent manner, inducing increased phosphorylation of Src kinases and Cbp/PAG in Th1 rafts, while decreasing phosphorylation of the same proteins in Th2 rafts. Mycobacterial lipoglycans thus modify the signalling machineries of rafts/microdomains in T helper cells, a modification of the membrane organization that eventually leads to an overall enhancement of type 2 and inhibition of type 1 cytokine production.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis*
  • Humans
  • Interleukins / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Mannose / chemistry
  • Mannose / metabolism
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Microdomains / chemistry
  • Membrane Microdomains / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mycobacterium / chemistry
  • Mycobacterium / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Th1 Cells / chemistry
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / chemistry
  • Th2 Cells / immunology*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Interleukins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • lipoarabinomannan
  • Mannose