Neisserial Porins and Antigen Presenting Cells

性状（由申请方提供）：奈瑟球菌孔蛋白（淋球菌蛋白I [PIA或PIB]或脑膜炎球菌1类[PorA]、2类或3类[PorB]蛋白）是奈瑟球菌外膜的主要蛋白组分。它们与其它革兰氏阴性孔蛋白在结构和功能上具有显著的同源性。这些孔蛋白已被证明是有效的免疫佐剂，我们已经证明，这涉及到他们的能力，激活抗原呈递细胞（APC），上调共刺激分子CD86和II类MHC的表达。在该提议的最后一个周期中，我们已经表明，这种孔蛋白，特别是PorB对APC的作用是由模式识别受体TLR2识别PorB介导的，并且是MyD88和TIRAP依赖性的。本发明的目的有三个，1）证明孔蛋白PorB与TLR 2的直接相互作用，2）确定哪种TLR 2共受体，TLR 1或TLR 6参与PorB诱导的TLR 2介导的活性，和3）确定哪种APC对于孔蛋白佐剂活性是必需的，以及该活性与APC抗原呈递和TLR 2活化的关系。这些目标的实现将大大提高我们对细菌组分与TLR相互作用以及TLR和APC在免疫应答中的作用的认识。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Neisserial porins (gonococcal Protein I [PIA or PIB] or meningococcal class 1 [PorA], 2 or 3 [PorB] proteins) are the major protein constituent of the Neisserial outer membrane. They have significant homology in structure and function amongst themselves and other Gram-negative porins. These porins have been shown to be potent immune adjuvants and we have demonstrated that this related to their ability to activate antigen presenting cells (APC), and upregulate the expression of the costimulatory molecule CD86 and class II MHC. During the last cycle of this proposal, we have shown that this effect of porins, specifically PorB, on APC is mediated by recognition of PorB by the pattern recognition receptor TLR2 and is MyD88 and TIRAP dependent. The goals of this current proposal are three-fold, 1) Demonstrate the direct interaction of porin PorB with TLR2, 2) determine which TLR2 co-receptor, TLR1 or TLR6 is involved in PorB induced TLR2 mediated activity and 3) determine which APC are essential for porin adjuvant activity and the relationship of this activity to APC antigen presentation and TLR2 activation. The fulfillment of these aims will greatly enhance our knowledge regarding bacterial component interaction with TLRs and the role of TLRs and APC in immune responses.