Toll/IL-1 receptor domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-β (TRIF)-mediated signaling contributes to innate immune responses in the lung during Escherichia coli pneumonia

Bacterial pneumonia remains a serious disease and is associated with neutrophil recruitment. Innate immunity is pivotal for the elimination of bacteria, and TLRs are essential in this process. Toll/IL-1R domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-beta (TRIF) is an adaptor for TLR3 and TLR4, and is associated with the MyD88-independent cascade. However, the importance of TRIF in immune responses against pulmonary bacterial pathogens is not well understood. We investigated the involvement of TRIF in a murine model of Escherichia coli pneumonia. TRIF-/- mice infected with E. coli display attenuated neutrophil migration; NF-kappa B activation; and TNF-alpha, IL-6, and LPS-induced C-X-C chemokine production in the lungs. In addition, E. coli-induced phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, and p38 MAPK was detected in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) of TRIF+/+ mice, but attenuated in BMMs of TRIF-/- mice. Furthermore, E. coli-induced TNF-alpha and IL-6 production was attenuated in BMMs of TRIF-/- mice. E. coli LPS-induced late MAPK activation, and TNF-alpha and IL-6 production were abolished in BMMs of TRIF-/- mice. Moreover, TRIF is not required for LPS-induced neutrophil influx, and keratinocyte cell-derived chemokine, MIP-2, and LPS-induced C-X-C chemokine production in the lungs. Using TLR3(-/-) mice, we ruled out the role of TLR3-mediated TRIF-dependent neutrophil influx during E. coli pneumonia. A TLR4-blocking Ab inhibited E. coli-induced TNF-alpha and IL-6 in BMMs of both TRIF-/- and TRIF+/+ mice, suggesting that TRIF-mediated signaling involves TLR4. We also found that TRIF is critical to control E. coli burden in the lungs and E. coli dissemination. Thus, rapid activation of TRIF-dependent TLR4-mediated signaling cascade serves to augment pulmonary host defense against a Gram-negative pathogen.