Lipoteichoic acid

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is a major constituent of the

). It has antigenic properties being able to stimulate specific immune response.

LTA may bind to target cells non-specifically through membrane

activation.

Studies

LTA's molecular structure has been found to have the strongest hydrophobic bonds of an entire bacteria^{[citation needed]}.

Said et al. showed that LTA causes an IL-10-dependent inhibition of CD4 T-cell expansion and function by up-regulating PD-1 levels on monocytes which leads to IL-10 production by monocytes after binding of PD-1 by PD-L.^[2]

Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Gram-positive bacteria exerts different immune effects depending on the bacterial source from which it is isolated. For example, LTA from Enterococcus faecalis is a virulence factor positively correlating to inflammatory damage to teeth during acute infection.^[3] On the other hand, a study reported Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG LTA (LGG-LTA) oral administration reduces UVB-induced immunosuppression and skin tumor development in mice.^[4] In animal studies, specific bacterial LTA has been correlated with induction of arthritis, nephritis, uveitis, encephalomyelitis, meningeal inflammation, and periodontal lesions, and also triggered cascades resulting in septic shock and multiorgan failure.

References

External links

• lipoteichoic+acid at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)