Lipid A Variants Activate Human TLR4 and the Noncanonical Inflammasome Differently and Require the Core Oligosaccharide for Inflammasome Activation

Abstract

Detection of Gram-negative bacterial lipid A by the extracellular sensor, myeloid differentiation 2 (MD2)/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), or the intracellular inflammasome sensors, CASP4 and CASP5, induces robust inflammatory responses. The chemical structure of lipid A, specifically its phosphorylation and acylation state, varies across and within bacterial species, potentially allowing pathogens to evade or suppress host immunity.