{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "ff2bc65fb2114cbda48b301d89913501", "timestamp": "2026-08-20T21:40:57.134Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/ff2bc65fb2114cbda48b301d89913501.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/ff2bc65fb2114cbda48b301d89913501"}}, "title": "Pneumolysin binds to the mannose receptor C type 1 (MRC-1) leading to anti-inflammatory responses and enhanced pneumococcal survival.", "authors": [{"family": "Subramanian", "given": "Karthik", "initials": "K", "orcid": "0000-0002-4381-5037", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/e448f139e7864d538490db77c2df7ead.json"}}, {"family": "Neill", "given": "Daniel R", "initials": "DR", "orcid": "0000-0002-7911-8153", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/5735ccbb66b14278a3d9050ce172f631.json"}}, {"family": "Malak", "given": "Hesham A", "initials": "HA"}, {"family": "Spelmink", "given": "Laura", "initials": "L"}, {"family": "Khandaker", "given": "Shadia", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Dalla Libera Marchiori", "given": "Giorgia", "initials": "G"}, {"family": "Dearing", "given": "Emma", "initials": "E"}, {"family": "Kirby", "given": "Alun", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0001-5663-2961", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/fbdfe12f517e4033b22f923ba3ada484.json"}}, {"family": "Yang", "given": "Marie", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Achour", "given": "Adnane", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Nilvebrant", "given": "Johan", "initials": "J", "orcid": "0000-0002-6104-6446", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/5cd15a9b2af64e4b977d064bacad0330.json"}}, {"family": "Nygren", "given": "Per-\u00c5ke", "initials": "P\u00c5", "orcid": "0000-0003-4214-6991", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/db3f3b9b876c486e9c8acaa5efcfff18.json"}}, {"family": "Plant", "given": "Laura", "initials": "L"}, {"family": "Kadioglu", "given": "Aras", "initials": "A", "orcid": "0000-0003-1137-6321", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/4952a80c4ae0496eb1ad3d9c81f257e2.json"}}, {"family": "Henriques-Normark", "given": "Birgitta", "initials": "B", "orcid": "0000-0002-5429-4759", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/40da20f498284552b13443f9109b7e32.json"}}], "type": "letter", "published": "2019-01-00", "journal": {"title": "Nat. Microbiol", "issn": "2058-5276", "volume": "4", "issue": "1", "pages": "62-70", "issn-l": "2058-5276"}, "abstract": "Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity globally, and the leading cause of death in children under 5 years old. The pneumococcal cytolysin pneumolysin (PLY) is a major virulence determinant known to induce pore-dependent pro-inflammatory responses. These inflammatory responses are driven by PLY-host cell membrane cholesterol interactions, but binding to a host cell receptor has not been previously demonstrated. Here, we discovered a receptor for PLY, whereby pro-inflammatory cytokine responses and Toll-like receptor signalling are inhibited following PLY binding to the mannose receptor C type 1 (MRC-1) in human dendritic cells and mouse alveolar macrophages. The cytokine suppressor SOCS1 is also upregulated. Moreover, PLY-MRC-1 interactions mediate pneumococcal internalization into non-lysosomal compartments and polarize naive T cells into an interferon-\u03b3low, interleukin-4high and FoxP3+ immunoregulatory phenotype. In mice, PLY-expressing pneumococci colocalize with MRC-1 in alveolar macrophages, induce lower pro-inflammatory cytokine responses and reduce neutrophil infiltration compared with a PLY mutant. In vivo, reduced bacterial loads occur in the airways of MRC-1-deficient mice and in mice in which MRC-1 is inhibited using blocking antibodies. In conclusion, we show that pneumococci use PLY-MRC-1 interactions to downregulate inflammation and enhance bacterial survival in the airways. These findings have important implications for future vaccine design.", "doi": "10.1038/s41564-018-0280-x", "pmid": "30420782", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "mid", "key": "EMS79869"}, {"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC6298590"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "10.1038/s41564-018-0280-x"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T08:55:17.312Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T08:55:17.635Z"}