TLRs are central receptors of the innate immune system that drive host inflammation and adaptive immune responses in response to invading microbes. Among human TLRs, TLR10 is the only family member without a defined agonist or function. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that TLR10 is most related to TLR1 and TLR6, both of which mediate immune responses to a variety of microbial and fungal components in cooperation with TLR2. The generation and analysis of chimeric receptors containing the extracellular recognition domain of TLR10 and the intracellular signaling domain of TLR1, revealed that TLR10 senses triacylated lipopeptides and a wide variety of other microbial-derived agonists shared by TLR1, but not TLR6. TLR10 requires TLR2 for innate immune recognition, and these receptors colocalize in the phagosome and physically interact in an agonist-dependent fashion. Computational modeling and mutational analysis of TLR10 showed preservation of the essential TLR2 dimer interface and lipopeptide-binding channel found in TLR1. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments indicate that, similar to TLR2/1, TLR2/10 complexes recruit the proximal adaptor MyD88 to the activated receptor complex. However, TLR10, alone or in cooperation with TLR2, fails to activate typical TLR-induced signaling, including NF-κB–, IL-8–, or IFN-β–driven reporters. We conclude that human TLR10 cooperates with TLR2 in the sensing of microbes and fungi but possesses a signaling function distinct from that of other TLR2 subfamily members.

BCG is a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis that is primarily used as a vaccine against tuberculosis. In the past four decades, BCG has also been used for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). In patients with NMIBC, BCG reduces the risk of tumor recurrence and decreases the likelihood of progression to more invasive disease. Despite the long-term clinical experience with BCG, its mechanism of action is still being elucidated. Data from animal models and from human studies suggests that BCG activates both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system eventually leading to tumor destruction. Herein, we review the current data regarding the mechanism of BCG and summarize the evidence for its clinical efficacy and recommended indications and clinical practice.

TLRs are central components of the innate immune system which, upon recognition of bacterial, fungal or viral components, activate intracellular signals that lead to protective inflammatory responses. Among the 10-member human TLR family, TLR10 is the only remaining orphan receptor without a known ligand or signaling function. Murine TLR10 is a disrupted pseudogene, which precludes investigation using classic gene knockout approaches. We report here that TLR10 suppressed the production of an array of cytokines in stably transfected human myelomonocytic U937 cells in response to other TLR agonists. This broad TLR suppressive activity affects both MyD88- and TRIF-inducing IFN-β–mediated signaling pathways upstream of IκB and MAPK activation. Compared with nontransgenic littermate controls, monocytes of TLR10 transgenic mice exhibited blunted IL-6 production following ex vivo blood stimulation with other TLR agonists. After i.p. injection of LPS, lower levels of TNFα, IL-6, and type 1 IFN were measured in the serum of TLR10 transgenic mice compared to nontransgenic mice, but did not affect mouse survival in an LPS-induced septic shock model. Finally, treatment of human mononuclear cells with a monoclonal anti-TLR10 Ab suppressed proinflammatory cytokines released by LPS stimulation. These results demonstrate that TLR10 functions as a broad negative regulator of TLR signaling and suggests that TLR10 has a role in controlling immune responses in vivo.

Toll-like receptors play a central role in the initiation of adaptive immune responses with several TLR agonists acting as known B cell mitogens. Despite thousands of publications on TLRs, the function of TLR10 remains unknown. We have found that Ab-mediated engagement of TLR10 on primary human B cells suppresses B cell proliferation, cytokine production, and signal transduction. When challenged with either a T independent or T dependent Ag, TLR10 transgenic mice exhibit diminished Ab responses. Adoptive transfer of splenic B cells into B cell–deficient mice revealed that the suppressive effects on Ag-specific humoral immune responses are entirely B cell intrinsic. Our results demonstrate that TLR10 has a functional role within the B cell lineage that is distinct from that of other TLR family members and may provide a potential therapeutic target for diseases characterized by dysregulated B cell activity.