Hyperthermia differentially regulates TLR4 and TLR2-mediated innate immune response

Fever influences multiple parameters of the immune response. However, the mechanisms by which fever manipulates immune response remain undefined. Here we present the evidences that fever range hyperthermia differentially regulates immune response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acids (LTA) through modulating Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. Pretreatment with 39.5 °C temperature enhanced LPS, but not LTA, induced NF-κB activation and TNF-α, IL-6 production in human macrophages. Consistently, expression of TLR4, but not TLR2, was up-regulated by 39.5 °C treatment. The increase in LPS-induced cytokine production was inhibited by TLR4-blocking antibody, indicating the enhancement of LPS-induced cytokine production by 39.5 °C pretreatment was TLR4-dependent. Pretreatment of mice with 39.5 °C temperature also enhanced LPS, but not LTA, induced TNF-α and IL-6 production in vivo. These results support the concept that fever range hyperthermia might activate innate immune response by promoting TLR4 expression and signaling, providing a possible mechanistic explanation for the function of fever in regulating innate immune responses.