TLR-4 and -6 agonists reverse apoptosis and promote maturation of simian virus 5-infected human dendritic cells through NFkB-dependent pathways

Infection of primary cultures of human immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDC) with the paramyxovirus Simian Virus 5 (SV5) results in extensive cytopathic effect (CPE) and induction of apoptosis, but DC maturation pathways are not activated. In this study, we investigated the relationship between SV5-induced apoptosis and the lack of DC maturation. Reducing CPE and apoptosis in SV5-infected immature DC by the addition of a pancaspase inhibitor resulted in only low level expression of maturation markers CD40, CD80 and CD86, suggesting that SV5 infection either actively blocked maturation pathways or failed to provide sufficient signals to activate maturation. To distinguish between these hypotheses, SV5-infected immature DC were challenged with agonists that stimulate toll-like receptors (TLRs). Treatment with the TLR-4 agonist LPS or TLR-6 agonist FSL1 enhanced cell surface expression of CD40, CD80 and CD86 on SV5-infected cells to levels approaching that of mock-infected TLR-treated moDC, but treatment with agonists for TLR-2, -3, -5 or -8 had little effect. Addition of TLR-4 or -6 agonists to SV5-infected DC also dramatically reduced CPE and apoptosis, but the levels of viral protein and virus yield were not affected. Similarly, SV5-infected immature moDC were matured by treatment with IL-1β, and these mature infected cells also showed reduced CPE and apoptosis. In the presence of NFkB inhibitors, TLR-4 and -6 agonists did not promote maturation or reduce apoptosis of SV5-infected DC, indicating that maturation and cell survival were both dependent on signaling through NFkB-dependent pathways. Our results suggest a model whereby SV5 replication induces apoptosis in immature DC but fails to provide strong maturation signals, while activation of NFkB-dependent pathways by exogenous ligands can lead to moDC maturation and override SV5-induced cell death.