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CD14 and apoptosis

C D Gregory1, A Devitt

  • 1Institute of Cell Signalling and School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK. Chris.Gregory@nottingham.ac.uk

Apoptosis : an International Journal on Programmed Cell Death
|November 25, 2003
PubMed

Insights

The macrophage receptor CD14 (cluster of differentiation 14) binds bacterial products to trigger inflammation and also clears apoptotic cells without inducing inflammation. This dual role highlights CD14

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • The 55kDa glycoprotein CD14 (cluster of differentiation 14) is a macrophage plasma membrane receptor involved in innate immunity.
  • CD14 mediates pro-inflammatory responses upon binding bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
  • Emerging evidence indicates CD14's role in the clearance of apoptotic cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the structure and functions of CD14.
  • To explore CD14's ligands and signal transduction pathways.
  • To elucidate CD14's role in apoptotic cell clearance by macrophages.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on CD14.
  • Analysis of CD14's interactions with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and apoptotic cell ligands.
  • Comparison of inflammatory responses triggered by LPS versus apoptotic cell binding.

Main Results:

  • CD14 binds both microbial products (like LPS) and self-components on apoptotic cells.
  • Ligand binding for apoptotic cells occurs at or near the LPS-binding site.
  • CD14-mediated apoptotic cell clearance does not induce pro-inflammatory cytokine release, unlike LPS binding.

Conclusions:

  • CD14 functions as a dual innate immune receptor.
  • It recognizes microbial products to initiate inflammatory responses.
  • It recognizes self-components on apoptotic cells to facilitate non-inflammatory clearance.

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