Innate immunity is the primary mechanism by which extracellular bacterial pathogens are effectively cleared from the lung. We have previously shown that
cyclic di-GMP (
c-di-GMP [c-diguanylate]) is a novel small molecule
immunomodulator and immunostimulatory agent that triggers protective host innate immune responses. Using a murine model of
bacterial pneumonia, we show that local intranasal (i.n.) or systemic subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of
c-di-GMP prior to intratracheal (i.t.) challenge with Klebsiella pneumoniae stimulates protective immunity against
infection. Specifically, i.n. or s.c. administration of
c-di-GMP 48 and 24 h prior to i.t. K. pneumoniae challenge resulted in significantly increased survival. Pretreatment with
c-di-GMP resulted in a 5-fold reduction in bacterial CFU in the lung (P < 0.05) and an impressive >1,000-fold decrease in CFU in the blood (P < 0.01).
c-di-GMP administration stimulated a robust innate response to bacterial challenge, characterized by enhanced accumulation of neutrophils and alphabeta T cells, as well as activated NK and alphabeta T lymphocytes, which was associated with earlier and more vigorous expression of
chemokines and type I
cytokines. Moreover, lung macrophages recovered from Klebsiella-infected mice pretreated with
c-di-GMP expressed greater quantities of
inducible nitric oxide synthase and
nitric oxide ex vivo than did macrophages isolated from infected mice pretreated with the control, c-GMP. These findings demonstrate that
c-di-GMP delivered in either a compartmentalized or systemic fashion stimulates protective innate immunity in the lung and protects mice against bacterial invasion. We propose that the cyclic dinucleotide
c-di-GMP may be used clinically as an effective
immunomodulator, immune enhancer, and
vaccine adjuvant to protect against respiratory
infection and
pneumonia in humans and animals.