A TLR4 agonist liposome formulation effectively stimulates innate immunity and enhances protection from bacterial infection

Stimulation of innate immunity can protect against infectious insult and could be used in combination with other therapies. Since antibiotic resistance is an increasing concern, strategies to reduce the dose or eliminate the need for these drugs are warranted. Lipo-CRX is a formulation in which the TLR4 agonist CRX-527 is incorporated into lipid membranes in liposomes. Lipo-CRX is less inflammatory than either CRX-527 or LPS, but retains unique capacity to enhance host defense responses. We compared lipo-CRX to other agonists in vitro using mammalian cells and in vivo in mice, and assessed indicators of innate immune responses and protection from bacterial infection. Lipo-CRX is similar to E. coli LPS in its capacity to activate bovine γδ T cells and to recruit neutrophils into mouse lungs, but with less reactivity in the LAL assay. However, lipo-CRX uniquely induced the production of systemic innate immune cytokines. In the mouse model of brucellosis, delivery of lipo-CRX to the lungs reduced the dissemination of B. abortus. While lipo-CRX or the antibiotic ampicillin alone did not alter B. abortus burdens in the lung, the combination had a synergistic beneficial effect. Our data suggest that stimulating the innate immune system with lipo-CRX, either alone or when combined with antibiotics, can enhance bacterial clearance in the mouse model of brucellosis.