Induction of tumor necrosis factor production from monocytes stimulated with mannuronic acid polymers and involvement of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, CD14, and bactericidal/permeability-increasing factor.

Well-defined polysaccharides, such as beta1-4-linked D-mannuronic acid (poly[M]) derived from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, induce monocytes to produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF) through a pathway involving membrane CD14. In this study we have investigated the effects of soluble CD14 (sCD14), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), and bactericidal/permeability-increasing factor (BPI) on poly(M) binding to monocytes and induction of TNF production. We show that LBP increased the TNF production from monocytes stimulated with poly(M). Addition of sCD14 alone had only minor effects, but when it was added together with LBP, a rise in TNF production was seen. BPI was found to inhibit TNF production from monocytes stimulated with poly(M) in the presence of LBP, LBP-sCD14, or 10% human serum. Binding studies showed that poly(M) bound to LBP- and BPI-coated immunowells, while no significant binding of poly(M) to sCD14-coated wells in the absence of serum was observed. Binding of poly(M) to monocytes was also examined by flow cytometry, and it was shown that the addition of LBP or 10% human serum clearly increased the binding of poly(M) to monocytes. BPI inhibited the binding of poly(M) to monocytes in the presence of LBP, LBP-sCD14, or 10% human serum. Our data demonstrate a role for LBP, LBP-sCD14, and BPI in modulating TNF responses of defined polysaccharides.