Sublingual flagellin protects against acute pneumococcal pneumonia in a TLR5-dependent and NLRC4-independent fashion. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Muñoz-Wolf, Natalia; Rial, Analía; Fougeron, Delphine; Tabareau, Julien; Sirard, Jean-Claude; Chabalgoity, José A
• Is Part Of: Future microbiology. Volume 11:Number 9(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 1167
• Page End: 1177
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: antimicrobial -- flagellin -- immunotherapy -- neutrophils -- pneumonia -- Streptococcus pneumoniae -- sublingual -- TLR5; Microbiology -- Research -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2016-0045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-0913

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate efficacy of sublingual flagellin to treat acute pneumonia.Materials & methods: Mice were treated sublingually with flagellin and challenged intranasally with a lethal dose of pneumococcus. Flagellins lacking TLR5 or NLRC4 activation domains were used to assess their contribution to protection.Results: Sublingual flagellin protected mice in a TLR5-dependent, NLRC4-independent fashion. Neutrophils were required for protection. Flagellin-stimulated lung epithelial cells recapitulated the lung's transcriptional profile suggesting they could be targeted by flagellin in vivo .Conclusion: Ligation of TLR5, a pathogen recognition receptor not naturally engaged by pneumococcus, protects mice from invasive pneumonia when administered via sublingual route. This can be a highly cost-effective alternative therapy against pneumonia.