Endritic cells. BMDC were incubated overnight with OVA and activated for 8 h with different LPS. Stimulated DC were co-cultured with T cells from OT-I and OT-II Rag-22/2 mice (A). The proliferation of OT-I and OT-II T cells was assessed after 3 days of co-culture by CFSE decrease. For T cell activation assays, the expression of surface markers such as CD25 and CD62L was analyzed by flow cytometry. At least 3 independent experiments were performed and one representative is shown. (B) CFSE-labeled ?allogeneic naive CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells were co-cultured with activated mDC for 7 days. Cell division was tested 1531364 by measuring CFSE-dilution Experiments were performed on 4 different donors. Data for one representative experiment are shown. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055117.gTetraacyl LPS Potentiate Intracellular SignallingTetraacyl LPS Potentiate Intracellular SignallingFigure 7. Tetra-acyl LPS induce effector molecules synthesis by human T cells. Human blood mDC were activated overnight either by ?medium or LPS variants and co-cultured with allogeneic naive CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells. After 7 days, cells were incubated 6 h with PMA/Ionomycine in the presence of Brefeldin A. The intracellular levels of IFN-c, IL-13 and IL-17 in CD4+ T (A) and IFN-c and Granzyme B in CD8+ T cells (B) were analysed by flow cytometry. Experiments were performed on 4 different donors. Data for one representative experiment are shown. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055117.gFigure 8. LPS with acylation defects activate human mDC to induce regulatory T cells. Human blood mDC were activated overnight either ?by medium or different LPS and co-cultured with allogeneic naive CD4+ T cells. After 7 days, cells were incubated 6 h with PMA/Ionomycine in the presence of Brefeldin A. Foxp3 and CD25 expression was analysed in CD4+ T cell population. Experiments were performed on 4 different donors. Data for 2 representatives are shown. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055117.gTetraacyl LPS Potentiate Intracellular SignallingHowever, semi-mature DC do not release high level of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1b, IL-6, TNF-a or IL-12p40 or IL-12p70. IL-10 production by semi-mature DC has been described, but it is not an Title Loaded From File absolute requirement for Treg differentiation [17]. Inducers of DC semi-maturation can be lactobacilli from the gut flora [30], intranasally applied OVA [31], apoptotic cells [32], Bordetella pertussis FHA [33] or TNF-a [34]. Here we show that, structural modifications of LPS are able to induce semi-mature human and mouse DC characterized by MHC-IIhigh, co-stimulationhigh, pro-inflammatory cytokines low phenotype. In the human model, these semi-mature DC induce high levels of Treg cells. In conclusion, we describe a new mechanism, which regulates the pro-inflammatory cytokine decrease in cells activated by LPS with acylation defects. We propose that cell stimulation by tetraacyl LPS trigger the activation of the proteasome machinery. This leads to the degradation of intracellular pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and consequently to a decrease of their Title Loaded From File secretion. Our results provide new insights into the understanding of early steps of endotoxin action and suggest that structural modifications of LPS could represent an important strategy for pathogens to subvert adaptive immunity by Treg cell induction in order to survive.Figure S3 LPS effect on mouse NF-kB translocation inmouse BMDM. Mouse BMDM were incubated with medium (grey), E. coli hexa-acyl LPS (dark blue), E. coli te.Endritic cells. BMDC were incubated overnight with OVA and activated for 8 h with different LPS. Stimulated DC were co-cultured with T cells from OT-I and OT-II Rag-22/2 mice (A). The proliferation of OT-I and OT-II T cells was assessed after 3 days of co-culture by CFSE decrease. For T cell activation assays, the expression of surface markers such as CD25 and CD62L was analyzed by flow cytometry. At least 3 independent experiments were performed and one representative is shown. (B) CFSE-labeled ?allogeneic naive CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells were co-cultured with activated mDC for 7 days. Cell division was tested 1531364 by measuring CFSE-dilution Experiments were performed on 4 different donors. Data for one representative experiment are shown. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055117.gTetraacyl LPS Potentiate Intracellular SignallingTetraacyl LPS Potentiate Intracellular SignallingFigure 7. Tetra-acyl LPS induce effector molecules synthesis by human T cells. Human blood mDC were activated overnight either by ?medium or LPS variants and co-cultured with allogeneic naive CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells. After 7 days, cells were incubated 6 h with PMA/Ionomycine in the presence of Brefeldin A. The intracellular levels of IFN-c, IL-13 and IL-17 in CD4+ T (A) and IFN-c and Granzyme B in CD8+ T cells (B) were analysed by flow cytometry. Experiments were performed on 4 different donors. Data for one representative experiment are shown. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055117.gFigure 8. LPS with acylation defects activate human mDC to induce regulatory T cells. Human blood mDC were activated overnight either ?by medium or different LPS and co-cultured with allogeneic naive CD4+ T cells. After 7 days, cells were incubated 6 h with PMA/Ionomycine in the presence of Brefeldin A. Foxp3 and CD25 expression was analysed in CD4+ T cell population. Experiments were performed on 4 different donors. Data for 2 representatives are shown. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0055117.gTetraacyl LPS Potentiate Intracellular SignallingHowever, semi-mature DC do not release high level of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1b, IL-6, TNF-a or IL-12p40 or IL-12p70. IL-10 production by semi-mature DC has been described, but it is not an absolute requirement for Treg differentiation [17]. Inducers of DC semi-maturation can be lactobacilli from the gut flora [30], intranasally applied OVA [31], apoptotic cells [32], Bordetella pertussis FHA [33] or TNF-a [34]. Here we show that, structural modifications of LPS are able to induce semi-mature human and mouse DC characterized by MHC-IIhigh, co-stimulationhigh, pro-inflammatory cytokines low phenotype. In the human model, these semi-mature DC induce high levels of Treg cells. In conclusion, we describe a new mechanism, which regulates the pro-inflammatory cytokine decrease in cells activated by LPS with acylation defects. We propose that cell stimulation by tetraacyl LPS trigger the activation of the proteasome machinery. This leads to the degradation of intracellular pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and consequently to a decrease of their secretion. Our results provide new insights into the understanding of early steps of endotoxin action and suggest that structural modifications of LPS could represent an important strategy for pathogens to subvert adaptive immunity by Treg cell induction in order to survive.Figure S3 LPS effect on mouse NF-kB translocation inmouse BMDM. Mouse BMDM were incubated with medium (grey), E. coli hexa-acyl LPS (dark blue), E. coli te.