LPS-neutralizing peptides reduce outer membrane vesicle-induced inflammatory responses

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are secreted by Gram-negative bacteria and induce a stronger inflammatory response than pure LPS. After endocytosis of OMVs by macrophages, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is released from early endosomes to activate its intracellular receptors followed by non-canonical inflammasome activation and pyroptosis, which are critically involved in sepsis development. Previously, we could show that the synthetic anti-endotoxin peptide Pep19-2.5 neutralizes inflammatory responses induced by intracellular LPS. Here, we aimed to investigate whether Pep19-2.5 is able to suppress cytoplasmic LPS-induced inflammation under more physiological conditions by using OMVs which naturally transfer LPS to the cytosol. Isothermal titration calorimetry revealed an exothermic reaction between Pep19-2.5 and Escherichia coli OMVs and the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay indicated a strong endotoxin blocking activity. In THP-1 macrophages and primary human macrophages Pep19-2.5 and polymyxin B reduced interleukin (IL)-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release as well as pyroptosis induced by OMVs, while the Toll-like receptor 4 signaling inhibitor TAK-242 suppressed OMV-induced TNF and IL-1 beta secretion, but not pyroptosis. Internalization of Pep19-2.5 was at least partially mediated by the P2X7 receptor in macrophages but not in monocytes. Additionally, a cell-dependent difference in the neutralization efficiency of Pep19-2.5 became evident in macrophages and monocytes, indicating a critical role for peptide-mediated IL-1 beta secretion via the P2X7 receptor. In conclusion, we provide evidence that LPS-neutralizing peptides inhibit OMV-induced activation of the inflammasome/IL-1 axis and give new insights into the mechanism of peptide-mediated neutralization of cytoplasmic LPS suggesting an essential and cell-type specific role for the P2X7 receptor.