Our findings reveal a novel role of CD46 in accelerating inflammatory responses upon meningococcal infection or LPS stimulation by regulating the functional polarization and survival of macrophages.
LOS mutants of the encapsulated N. meningitidis serogroup B strain NMB were used to further determine the importance of the LOS structure in in vitro adherence and invasion of human pharyngeal epithelial cells by meningococci and to study pathogenicity in a mouse (CD46 transgenic) model of meningococcal disease.
Taken together, these data demonstrate that responses in mice expressing human CD46 mimic human meningococcal disease in many aspects, and demonstrate novel important links between CD46 and the innate immune system.