Abstract
Increased concentrations of DNA-containing immune complexes in the serum are associated with systemic autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Stimulation of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) by DNA is important in the activation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and B cells. Here we show that HMGB1, a nuclear DNA-binding protein released from necrotic cells, was an essential component of DNA-containing immune complexes that stimulated cytokine production through a TLR9–MyD88 pathway involving the multivalent receptor RAGE. Moreover, binding of HMGB1 to class A CpG oligodeoxynucleotides considerably augmented cytokine production by means of TLR9 and RAGE. Our data demonstrate a mechanism by which HMGB1 and RAGE activate plasmacytoid dendritic cells and B cells in response to DNA and contribute to autoimmune pathogenesis.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
£139.00 per year
only £11.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Change history
24 May 2007
In the version of this article initially published, the legends for Figures 3c and 5b fail to indicate that portions of these are the same experiments as in Figures 3b and 5a, respectively. The correct legends state “Binding with or without CpG-A is from the same experiment as in b” (for Fig. 3c) and “Data for PL2-3 in the presence of supernatant alone (bold lines) as detected by anti-IgG2a (left, a,b) and by anti-HMGB1 (right, a,b) are from the same experiment” (for Fig. 5b). Also, error bars are missing from Figure 3c. The errors have been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.
References
Mok, C.C. & Lau, C.S. Pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. J. Clin. Pathol. 56, 481–490 (2003).
Denny, M.F. et al. Accelerated macrophage apoptosis induces autoantibody formation and organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus. J. Immunol. 176, 2095–2104 (2006).
Robak, E., Sysa-Jedrzejowska, A., Robak, T. & Smolewski, P. Peripheral blood lymphocyte apoptosis and circulating dendritic cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: correlation with immunological status and disease-related symptoms. Clin. Rheumatol. 25, 225–233 (2006).
ter Borg, E.J., Horst, G., Hummel, E.J., Limburg, P.C. & Kallenberg, C.G. Measurement of increases in anti-double-stranded DNA antibody levels as a predictor of disease exacerbation in systemic lupus erythematosus. A long-term, prospective study. Arthritis Rheum. 33, 634–643 (1990).
Magnusson, M., Magnusson, S., Vallin, H., Ronnblom, L. & Alm, G.V. Importance of CpG dinucleotides in activation of natural IFN-α-producing cells by a lupus-related oligodeoxynucleotide. Scand. J. Immunol. 54, 543–550 (2001).
Sano, H. et al. Binding properties of human anti-DNA antibodies to cloned human DNA fragments. Scand. J. Immunol. 30, 51–63 (1989).
Bauer, S. et al. Human TLR9 confers responsiveness to bacterial DNA via species-specific CpG motif recognition. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 9237–9242 (2001).
Latz, E. et al. TLR9 signals after translocating from the ER to CpG DNA in the lysosome. Nat. Immunol. 5, 190–198 (2004).
Krieg, A.M. Therapeutic potential of Toll-like receptor 9 activation. Nat. Rev. Drug Discov. 5, 471–484 (2006).
Ishii, K.J. & Akira, S. Innate immune recognition of, and regulation by, DNA. Trends Immunol. 27, 525–532 (2006).
Wu, C.C., Lee, J., Raz, E., Corr, M. & Carson, D.A. Necessity of oligonucleotide aggregation for toll-like receptor 9 activation. J. Biol. Chem. 279, 33071–33078 (2004).
Barrat, F.J. et al. Nucleic acids of mammalian origin can act as endogenous ligands for Toll-like receptors and may promote systemic lupus erythematosus. J. Exp. Med. 202, 1131–1139 (2005).
Guiducci, C. et al. Properties regulating the nature of the plasmacytoid dendritic cell response to Toll-like receptor 9 activation. J. Exp. Med. 203, 1999–2008 (2006).
Barton, G.M., Kagan, J.C. & Medzhitov, R. Intracellular localization of Toll-like receptor 9 prevents recognition of self DNA but facilitates access to viral DNA. Nat. Immunol. 7, 49–56 (2006).
Ronnblom, L., Eloranta, M.L. & Alm, G.V. Role of natural interferon-α producing cells (plasmacytoid dendritic cells) in autoimmunity. Autoimmunity 36, 463–472 (2003).
Asselin-Paturel, C. & Trinchieri, G. Production of type I interferons: plasmacytoid dendritic cells and beyond. J. Exp. Med. 202, 461–465 (2005).
Jego, G. et al. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells induce plasma cell differentiation through type I interferon and interleukin 6. Immunity 19, 225–234 (2003).
Blanco, P., Palucka, A.K., Gill, M., Pascual, V. & Banchereau, J. Induction of dendritic cell differentiation by IFN-α in systemic lupus erythematosus. Science 294, 1540–1543 (2001).
Crow, M.K. Interferon pathway activation in systemic lupus erythematosus. Curr. Rheumatol. Rep. 7, 463–468 (2005).
Gottenberg, J.E. et al. Activation of IFN pathways and plasmacytoid dendritic cell recruitment in target organs of primary Sjogren's syndrome. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103, 2770–2775 (2006).
Bennett, L. et al. Interferon and granulopoiesis signatures in systemic lupus erythematosus blood. J. Exp. Med. 197, 711–723 (2003).
Stott, K., Tang, G.S., Lee, K.B. & Thomas, J.O. Structure of a complex of tandem HMG boxes and DNA. J. Mol. Biol. 360, 90–104 (2006).
Scaffidi, P., Misteli, T. & Bianchi, M.E. Release of chromatin protein HMGB1 by necrotic cells triggers inflammation. Nature 418, 191–195 (2002).
Wang, H. et al. HMG-1 as a late mediator of endotoxin lethality in mice. Science 285, 248–251 (1999).
Qin, S. et al. Role of HMGB1 in apoptosis-mediated sepsis lethality. J. Exp. Med. 203, 1637–1642 (2006).
Andersson, U. & Erlandsson-Harris, H. HMGB1 is a potent trigger of arthritis. J. Intern. Med. 255, 344–350 (2004).
Yang, H. et al. Reversing established sepsis with antagonists of endogenous high-mobility group box 1. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 296–301 (2004).
Kokkola, R. et al. High mobility group box chromosomal protein 1: a novel proinflammatory mediator in synovitis. Arthritis Rheum. 46, 2598–2603 (2002).
Kokkola, R. et al. RAGE is the major receptor for the proinflammatory activity of HMGB1 in rodent macrophages. Scand. J. Immunol. 61, 1–9 (2005).
Park, J.S. et al. High mobility group box 1 protein interacts with multiple Toll-like receptors. Am. J. Physiol. Cell Physiol. 290, C917–C924 (2006).
Hori, O. et al. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a cellular binding site for amphoterin. Mediation of neurite outgrowth and co-expression of rage and amphoterin in the developing nervous system. J. Biol. Chem. 270, 25752–25761 (1995).
Dumitriu, I.E., Baruah, P., Bianchi, M.E., Manfredi, A.A. & Rovere-Querini, P. Requirement of HMGB1 and RAGE for the maturation of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Eur. J. Immunol. 35, 2184–2190 (2005).
Dumitriu, I.E. et al. Release of high mobility group box 1 by dendritic cells controls T cell activation via the receptor for advanced glycation end products. J. Immunol. 174, 7506–7515 (2005).
Popovic, K. et al. Increased expression of the novel proinflammatory cytokine high mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 in skin lesions of patients with lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Rheum. 52, 3639–3645 (2005).
Lakowicz, J.R. On spectral relaxation in proteins. Photochem. Photobiol. 72, 421–437 (2000).
Viglianti, G.A. et al. Activation of autoreactive B cells by CpG dsDNA. Immunity 19, 837–847 (2003).
Marshak-Rothstein, A. et al. Comparison of CpG s-ODNs, chromatin immune complexes, and dsDNA fragment immune complexes in the TLR9-dependent activation of rheumatoid factor B cells. J. Endotoxin Res. 10, 247–251 (2004).
Hua, J., Kirou, K., Lee, C. & Crow, M.K. Functional assay of type I interferon in systemic lupus erythematosus plasma and association with anti-RNA binding protein autoantibodies. Arthritis Rheum. 54, 1906–1916 (2006).
Lovgren, T., Eloranta, M.L., Bave, U., Alm, G.V. & Ronnblom, L. Induction of interferon-alpha production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells by immune complexes containing nucleic acid released by necrotic or late apoptotic cells and lupus IgG. Arthritis Rheum. 50, 1861–1872 (2004).
Ehlers, M., Fukuyama, H., McGaha, T.L., Aderem, A. & Ravetch, J.V. TLR9/MyD88 signaling is required for class switching to pathogenic IgG2a and 2b autoantibodies in SLE. J. Exp. Med. 203, 553–561 (2006).
Goodnow, C.C. Immunology. Discriminating microbe from self suffers a double toll. Science 312, 1606–1608 (2006).
Means, T.K. & Luster, A.D. Toll-like receptor activation in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 1062, 242–251 (2005).
Muller, S. et al. New EMBO members' review: the double life of HMGB1 chromatin protein: architectural factor and extracellular signal. EMBO J. 20, 4337–4340 (2001).
Stott, K., Tang, G.S., Lee, K.B. & Thomas, J.O. Structure of a complex of tandem HMG boxes and DNA. J. Mol. Biol. 360, 90–104 (2006).
Napolitani, G., Rinaldi, A., Bertoni, F., Sallusto, F. & Lanzavecchia, A. Selected Toll-like receptor agonist combinations synergistically trigger a T helper type 1–polarizing program in dendritic cells. Nat. Immunol. 6, 769–776 (2005).
Wang, H., Yang, H. & Tracey, K.J. Extracellular role of HMGB1 in inflammation and sepsis. J. Intern. Med. 255, 320–331 (2004).
Li, J. et al. Recombinant HMGB1 with cytokine-stimulating activity. J. Immunol. Methods 289, 211–223 (2004).
Andersson, U. et al. High mobility group 1 protein (HMG-1) stimulates proinflammatory cytokine synthesis in human monocytes. J. Exp. Med. 192, 565–570 (2000).
Degryse, B. et al. The high mobility group (HMG) boxes of the nuclear protein HMG1 induce chemotaxis and cytoskeleton reorganization in rat smooth muscle cells. J. Cell Biol. 152, 1197–1206 (2001).
Palumbo, R. et al. Extracellular HMGB1, a signal of tissue damage, induces mesoangioblast migration and proliferation. J. Cell Biol. 164, 441–449 (2004).
Fiuza, C. et al. Inflammation-promoting activity of HMGB1 on human microvascular endothelial cells. Blood 101, 2652–2660 (2003).
Sappington, P.L. et al. HMGB1 B box increases the permeability of Caco-2 enterocytic monolayers and impairs intestinal barrier function in mice. Gastroenterology 123, 790–802 (2002).
Sorci, G., Riuzzi, F., Arcuri, C., Giambanco, I. & Donato, R. Amphoterin stimulates myogenesis and counteracts the antimyogenic factors basic fibroblast growth factor and S100B via RAGE binding. Mol. Cell. Biol. 24, 4880–4894 (2004).
Rong, L.L. et al. Antagonism of RAGE suppresses peripheral nerve regeneration. FASEB J. 18, 1812–1817 (2004).
Taguchi, A. et al. Blockade of RAGE-amphoterin signalling suppresses tumour growth and metastases. Nature 405, 354–360 (2000).
Popovic, P.J. et al. High mobility group B1 protein suppresses the human plasmacytoid dendritic cell response to TLR9 agonists. J. Immunol. 177, 8701–8707 (2006).
Bonaldi, T. et al. Monocytic cells hyperacetylate chromatin protein HMGB1 to redirect it towards secretion. EMBO J. 22, 5551–5560 (2003).
Leadbetter, E.A. et al. Chromatin-IgG complexes activate B cells by dual engagement of IgM and Toll-like receptors. Nature 416, 603–607 (2002).
Ahmad-Nejad, P. et al. Bacterial CpG-DNA and lipopolysaccharides activate Toll-like receptors at distinct cellular compartments. Eur. J. Immunol. 32, 1958–1968 (2002).
Ishihara, K., Tsutsumi, K., Kawane, S., Nakajima, M. & Kasaoka, T. The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) directly binds to ERK by a D-domain-like docking site. FEBS Lett. 550, 107–113 (2003).
Kirou, K.A. et al. Activation of the interferon-α pathway identifies a subgroup of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with distinct serologic features and active disease. Arthritis Rheum. 52, 1491–1503 (2005).
Lovgren, T., Eloranta, M.L., Bave, U., Alm, G.V. & Ronnblom, L. Induction of interferon-alpha production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells by immune complexes containing nucleic acid released by necrotic or late apoptotic cells and lupus IgG. Arthritis Rheum. 50, 1861–1872 (2004).
Vallin, H., Perers, A., Alm, G.V. & Ronnblom, L. Anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies and immunostimulatory plasmid DNA in combination mimic the endogenous IFN-α inducer in systemic lupus erythematosus. J. Immunol. 163, 6306–6313 (1999).
Walker, J.M., Goodwin, G.H., Johns, E.W., Wietzes, P. & Gaastra, W. A comparison of the amino-terminal sequences of two calf-thymus chromatin non-histone proteins. Int. J. Pept. Protein Res. 9, 220–223 (1977).
Chavakis, T. et al. The pattern recognition receptor (RAGE) is a counterreceptor for leukocyte integrins: a novel pathway for inflammatory cell recruitment. J. Exp. Med. 198, 1507–1515 (2003).
Acknowledgements
We thank M. McCarthy and J. Suzich for comments on the manuscript; J.-C. Finet for trytophan intrinsic fluorescence measurements; and L. Xu for technical assistance. TLR9- and MyD88-deficient mice were from S. Akira (Research Institute for Microbial Diseases); HMGB1-deficient MEFs were from M. Bianchi (San Raffaele University). Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG/SFB 405 to P.P.N.), the Alliance for Lupus Research and the National Institutes of Health (AI0677497-01).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
J.T. and S.-Y.M. carried out binding assays; A.M.A. and A.M.R., the B cell assays; B.C., immunoblots; H.W., L.L.A., L.A., K.S. and G.L.R., antibody generation and protein purification; E.L., P.P., S.D., D.G., C.S. and K.A.F., AlphaScreen assays and confocal microscopy; P.N. and A.B., generation of RAGE mice; and M.K.C. and J.H., lupus serum experiments. A.J.C. and P.A.K. conceived the experiments and wrote the paper.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
J.T., S.-Y.M., B.C., K.S., H.W., S.D., L.A., P.A.K. and A.J.C. are employees of MedImmune, developing therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to HMGB1. G.L.R. is an employee of Critical Therapeutics.
Supplementary information
Supplementary Table 1
DNA and peptide sequence. (PDF 51 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tian, J., Avalos, A., Mao, SY. et al. Toll-like receptor 9–dependent activation by DNA-containing immune complexes is mediated by HMGB1 and RAGE. Nat Immunol 8, 487–496 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1457
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ni1457