Pseudomonas aeruginosa-derived DnaJ induces TLR2 expression through TLR10-mediated activation of the PI3K-SGK1 pathway in macrophages.

Abstract

TLR2 is a key component of the innate immune system, responsible for recognizing Gram-positive bacterial components and initiating inflammatory signaling cascades that activate defense responses. However, little is known about the regulatory effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) on TLR2 expression. In this study, we investigated the potential link between P. aeruginosa-derived DnaJ and TLR2 expression in macrophages, as well as the activation of downstream signaling pathways. Our findings revealed that DnaJ significantly induced TLR2 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner, predominantly affecting TLR2 with minimal impact on other TLRs, such as TLR4 and TLR5, which detect bacterial PAMPs. The DnaJ-mediated TLR2 induction was driven by activation of the PI3K-SGK1 signaling pathway, with TLR10 playing a crucial role in facilitating these effects. This increase in TLR2 expression led to enhanced production of inflammatory cytokines in response to secondary Staphylococcus aureus infections, indicating a role in boosting host defense mechanisms. In conclusion, these findings suggest that P. aeruginosa-derived DnaJ promotes TLR2 expression via TLR10-mediated activation of the PI3K-SGK1 pathway, thereby enhancing host immune responses against Gram-positive bacterial infections.