Ntagonist (metoprolol); beta2 = b2-adrenoceptor antagonist (ICI118,551); beta1/2 = b1/2-adrenoceptor antagonist (propranolol). * p,0.05; ** p,0.01; *** p,0.005. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065024.gsecreting regulatory T cells (Tregs) [1,4]. The cytolytic activity of human NK cells is strongly enhanced by IFNA1, which is paramount for antiviral and anticancer immune responses [7]. Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and CpG motifs within DNA sequences are the main stimuli eliciting IFNA1 secretion from pDCs. SsRNA and CpG-DNA are recognized by endolysosomal receptors. order Argipressin Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) recognizes ssRNA in pDCs [8], TLR8 is the corresponding receptor expressed in other myeloid cells, such as monocytes or neutrophils [9]. TLR9 is activated by CpG-containing DNA motifs. These can be found in bacterial, viral and, to a lesser extent, also in mammalian DNA. Synthetic CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) also CI-1011 activate TLR9 [10,11,12]. In pDCs, TLR7 and TLR9 signal via MyD88 and other adaptor molecules to interferon-regulatory factor 7 (IRF7), resulting in IFNA1 synthesis and secretion [13]. Due to their ability to enhance NK cell cytotoxicity and to skew T cell polarization while at the same time inducing Treg expansion and IL10 production, the role of pDCs in disease is difficult to establish. In acute viral infections, pDCs are critically required for viral control [14], such as during acute viral hepatitis or herpes simplex infections. In chronic viral diseases such as HBV and HCV infections, pDC functions seem to be suppressed [15,16]. Recognition of self-RNA and self-DNA is the driving factor behind pDC activation in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and psoriasis [1,4,17,18]. In the latter cases, the level of pDC-derived IFNA1 correlates with the overall disease severity. In cancer, non-activated pDCs seem to suppress anti-tumor responses [19]. These pDCs remain in an inactive state either due to the lack of an appropriate stimulus or an active suppression of their activation by the tumor itself or by bystander cells. While it is widely accepted that “stress” increases the susceptibility to viral infections and plays a role in tumor development, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The endogenous stress response ?mainly mediated by catecholamines like norepinephrine and epinephrine ?is frequently aggravated by pharmacological interventions. One such intervention is the use of (nor-) epinephrine during cardio-circulatory resuscitation in the context of different diseases (e.g., sepsis and shock). These agents act via so-called adrenoceptors, G-protein coupled membrane receptors. These are classified as a- and badrenoceptors and differ in their downstream signaling mechanisms and tissue distribution. It has been shown that subsets of immune cells also express adrenoceptors and that these cells are differentially regulated by adrenergic substances [20,21,22,23,24]. In the present study, we report that TLR9-dependent IFNA1 secretion is suppressed by adrenoceptor ligands in PBMCs. We demonstrate for the first time that this effect is mediated by ADRB2 (adrenoceptor b2). Furthermore, we provide evidence that this ADRB2-dependent TLR9 suppression is mediated by bystander cells within PBMC and not by ADRB2 on pDCs. This observation has implications for immune reactions involvingpDCs, as evidenced by decreased lysis of K562 cancer cells after ADRB2-dependent repression of TLR9-induced IFNA1 sec.Ntagonist (metoprolol); beta2 = b2-adrenoceptor antagonist (ICI118,551); beta1/2 = b1/2-adrenoceptor antagonist (propranolol). * p,0.05; ** p,0.01; *** p,0.005. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0065024.gsecreting regulatory T cells (Tregs) [1,4]. The cytolytic activity of human NK cells is strongly enhanced by IFNA1, which is paramount for antiviral and anticancer immune responses [7]. Single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and CpG motifs within DNA sequences are the main stimuli eliciting IFNA1 secretion from pDCs. SsRNA and CpG-DNA are recognized by endolysosomal receptors. Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) recognizes ssRNA in pDCs [8], TLR8 is the corresponding receptor expressed in other myeloid cells, such as monocytes or neutrophils [9]. TLR9 is activated by CpG-containing DNA motifs. These can be found in bacterial, viral and, to a lesser extent, also in mammalian DNA. Synthetic CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) also activate TLR9 [10,11,12]. In pDCs, TLR7 and TLR9 signal via MyD88 and other adaptor molecules to interferon-regulatory factor 7 (IRF7), resulting in IFNA1 synthesis and secretion [13]. Due to their ability to enhance NK cell cytotoxicity and to skew T cell polarization while at the same time inducing Treg expansion and IL10 production, the role of pDCs in disease is difficult to establish. In acute viral infections, pDCs are critically required for viral control [14], such as during acute viral hepatitis or herpes simplex infections. In chronic viral diseases such as HBV and HCV infections, pDC functions seem to be suppressed [15,16]. Recognition of self-RNA and self-DNA is the driving factor behind pDC activation in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and psoriasis [1,4,17,18]. In the latter cases, the level of pDC-derived IFNA1 correlates with the overall disease severity. In cancer, non-activated pDCs seem to suppress anti-tumor responses [19]. These pDCs remain in an inactive state either due to the lack of an appropriate stimulus or an active suppression of their activation by the tumor itself or by bystander cells. While it is widely accepted that “stress” increases the susceptibility to viral infections and plays a role in tumor development, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The endogenous stress response ?mainly mediated by catecholamines like norepinephrine and epinephrine ?is frequently aggravated by pharmacological interventions. One such intervention is the use of (nor-) epinephrine during cardio-circulatory resuscitation in the context of different diseases (e.g., sepsis and shock). These agents act via so-called adrenoceptors, G-protein coupled membrane receptors. These are classified as a- and badrenoceptors and differ in their downstream signaling mechanisms and tissue distribution. It has been shown that subsets of immune cells also express adrenoceptors and that these cells are differentially regulated by adrenergic substances [20,21,22,23,24]. In the present study, we report that TLR9-dependent IFNA1 secretion is suppressed by adrenoceptor ligands in PBMCs. We demonstrate for the first time that this effect is mediated by ADRB2 (adrenoceptor b2). Furthermore, we provide evidence that this ADRB2-dependent TLR9 suppression is mediated by bystander cells within PBMC and not by ADRB2 on pDCs. This observation has implications for immune reactions involvingpDCs, as evidenced by decreased lysis of K562 cancer cells after ADRB2-dependent repression of TLR9-induced IFNA1 sec.
