SummaryInfluenza A virus causes epidemics of respiratory diseases in humans leading to thousands of death annually. One of its major virulence factors, the non-structural protein 1 (NS1), exhibits interferonantagonistic properties. While epithelial cells of the respiratory tract are the primary targets of influenza virus, the virus-sensing mechanisms in these cells eventually leading to IFNb production are incompletely understood. Here we show that infection of epithelial cells with NS1-deficient influenza A virus upregulated expression of two molecules that have been previously implicated in sensing of RNA viruses, the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) and the melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5). Gene silencing and overexpression experiments demonstrated that RIG-I, its adapter interferon-beta promoter stimulator 1 (IPS-1) and interferon-regulated factor 3 (IRF3) were involved in influenza A virus-mediated production of the antiviral IFNb. In addition, we showed that the NS1 protein is capable to inhibit the RIG-I-induced signalling, a mechanism which corresponded to the observation that only NS1-deficient but not the wild-type virus induced high-level production of IFNb. In conclusion, we demonstrated a critical involvement of RIG-I, IPS-1 and IRF3 in influenza A virus infection of epithelial cells.

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In mice, different alleles of the mNAIP5 (murine neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein-5)/mBirc1e gene determine whether macrophages restrict or support intracellular replication of Legionella pneumophila, and whether a mouse is resistant or (moderately) susceptible to Legionella infection. In the resistant mice strains, the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (Nod)-like receptor (NLR) family member mNAIP5/mBirc1e, as well as the NLR protein mIpaf (murine ICE protease-activating factor), are involved in recognition of Legionella flagellin and in restriction of bacterial replication. Human macrophages and lung epithelial cells support L. pneumophila growth, and humans can develop severe pneumonia (Legionnaires disease) after Legionella infection. The role of human orthologs to mNAIP5/mBirc1e and mIpaf in this bacterial infection has not been elucidated. Herein we demonstrate that flagellin-deficient L. pneumophila replicate more efficiently in human THP-1 macrophages, primary monocyte-derived macrophages, and alveolar macrophages, and in A549 lung epithelial cells compared with wild-type bacteria. Additionally, we note expression of the mNAIP5 ortholog hNAIP in all cell types examined, and expression of hIpaf in human macrophages. Gene silencing of hNAIP or hIpaf in macrophages or of hNAIP in lung epithelial cells leads to an enhanced bacterial growth, and overexpression of both molecules strongly reduces Legionella replication. In contrast to experiments with wild-type L. pneumophila, hNAIP or hIpaf knock-down affects the (enhanced) replication of flagellin-deficient Legionella only marginally. In conclusion, hNAIP and hIpaf mediate innate intracellular defense against flagellated Legionella in human cells.

The release of potent proinflammatory mediators is not only central for mounting an efficient host response, but also bears the risk for deleterious excessive tissue-damaging inflammation. This is highlighted in severe pneumococcal pneumonia, in which the delicate balance between a robust inflammatory response to kill pneumococci and loss of organ function determines the outcome of disease. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Krüppel-like factor (KLF)2 counterregulates pneumococci- and pattern recognition receptor-related human lung cell activation. Pneumococci induced KLF2 expression in vitro and in a murine pneumonia model. Activation of TLR2- and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 2-related signaling induced KLF2 expression in a PI3K-dependent manner. Overexpression of KLF2 downregulated pneumococci-, TLR2-, and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein 2-related NF-κB–dependent gene expression and IL-8 release, whereas small interfering RNA-based silencing of KLF2 provoked an enhanced inflammatory response. KLF2-dependent downregulation of NF-κB activity is partly reversible by overexpression of the histone acetylase p300/CREB-binding protein-associated factor. In conclusion, KLF2 may act as a counterregulatory transcription factor in pneumococci- and pattern recognition receptor-related proinflammatory activation of lung cells, thereby preventing lung hyperinflammation and subsequent organ failure.