Th1-Like Cytokine Induction by Heat-Killed <i>Brucella abortus</i> Is Dependent on Triggering of TLR9

In this report we provide evidence, for the first time, that bacterial DNA in the context of heat-killed Brucella abortus (HKBA) engages TLR9 in dendritic cells (DC), resulting in a Th1-like cytokine response. This is based on the findings that HKBA induction of IL-12p40 is: 1) abolished in DC from TLR9(-/-) mice; 2) blocked by suppressive oligodeoxynucleotides; 3) simulated by bacterial DNA derived from HKBA; and 4) abrogated by DNase or methylation of the DNA from HKBA. Furthermore, the effect of HKBA can be inhibited by chloroquine, indicating that endosomal acidification is required and supporting the notion that DNA from HKBA is interacting with TLR9 at the level of the endosome, as is the case with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides. In addition to DC, HKBA can elicit IL-12p40 secretion from macrophages, in which case the effect is wholly MyD88 dependent but only partially TLR9 dependent. This probably explains why HKBA effects in vivo are only partially reduced in TLR9(-/-), but absent in MyD88(-/-) mice. Because of their intimate interactions with T cells, the DC response is most likely to be critical for linking innate and adaptive immune responses, whereas the macrophage reaction may play a role in enhancing NK cell and bystander immune responses. In addition to IL-12p40, HKBA induces other Th1-like cytokines, namely, IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma, in a TLR9-dependent manner. These cytokines are important in protection against viruses and bacteria, and their induction enhances HKBA as a potential carrier for vaccines.