Flagellin FliC - TLR5 Agonist

Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5)

The Toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) is an important pattern recognition receptor (PRR) of the innate immune system playing an essential role in the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and liver. It recognizes a wide variety of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), specifically flagellin, the major structural protein of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial flagella [1]. TLR5 is expressed constitutively in epithelial cells and immune cells, such as monocytes and immature dendritic cells (DCs). It is preferentially found on the apical side of respiratory epithelia in both mice and humans [1]. Activation of the receptor stimulates the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, through signaling via the adaptor protein MyD88 [1-3]. TLR5 can generate a pro-inflammatory signal as a homodimer suggesting that it might be the only TLR participating in flagellin recognition [3]. However, TLR5 may require the presence of a co-receptor or adaptor molecule for efficient ligand recognition and/or signaling [4].

NLRC4 inflammasome 

Inflammasomes are cytoplasmic multi-protein complexes, characterized by a primary sensor, that assemble in response to infections and cellular damage. NLRC4 is an indirect sensor that must associate with NAIP (NLR family apoptosis inhibitory protein) to induce the assembly of an NLRC4 inflammasome. A single NAIP operates upstream of NLRC4 in humans and recognizes intracellular Flagellin, Needle, or Rod from several Gram-negative bacterial strains [5]. These ligands are sensed by NAIP upon bacterial invasion, or cytosolic translocation through the bacterial type III or IV secretion systems (T3SS or T4SS). Once recruited by NAIP, NLRC4 triggers a homo-polymerization through NBD-NBD interactions, allowing a CARD clustering [5]. The NLRC4 polymer further associates to pro-caspase-1, either through direct CARD-CARD interaction or through the binding of the ASC (apoptosis-associated speck-like protein) adaptor [1]. Activation of caspase-1 induces the maturation of pro-IL-1β/pro-IL-18, cleavage of the pore-forming gasdermin D (GSDMD), secretion of IL-1β/-18, and pyroptosis [5-7]. The NLRC4 inflammasome appears to protect mucosal barriers such as the lung, stomach, and intestine from invading bacteria 8]. Gain-of-function mutations have been described in human NLRC4 and are associated with auto-inflammatory conditions [7]. 

References

1. Yang J. & Yan H. 2017. TLR5: beyond the recognition of flagellin.Cell Mol Immunol. 14(12):1017-1019.
2. Gewirtz AT. et al., 2001. Cutting edge: bacterial flagellin activates basolaterally expressed TLR5 to induce epithelial proinflammatory gene expression. J Immunol, 167(4):1882-5.
3. Hayashi F. et al., 2001. The innate immune response to bacterial flagellin is mediated by Toll-like receptor 5. Nature, 410(6832):1099-103.
4. Tallant T. et al., 2004. Flagellin acting via TLR5 is the major activator of key signaling pathways leading to NF-kappa B and proinflammatory gene program activation in intestinal epithelial cells. BMC Microbiol. 4(1):33.
5. Zhang L. et al., 2015. Cryo-EM structure of the activated NAIP2-NLRC4 inflammasome reveals nucleated polymerization. Science. 350:404-409.
6. Zhao Y. et al., 2011. The NLRC4 inflammasome receptors for bacterial flagellin and type III secretion apparatus. Nature. 477: 596-600.
7. Bauer R. & Rauch I., 2011. The NAIP/NLRC4 inflammasome in infection and pathology. Mol. Aspects Med. 2020 Jun 1:100863.