Work

Anthrax Lethal Toxin Inhibits the Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: In previous studies, we have found that anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx) induces apoptosis in both murine macrophages and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In this study, we further report that bacterial cell wall (CW) components of Bacillus (B.) anthracis are powerful inducers of proinflammatory cytokines from the PBMCs. These effects are deprived when the LeTx is present. The major causative element for this suppression is lethal factor (LF) rather than protective antigen (PA). These results indicate that the roles of LeTx in anthrax pathogenesis, particularly its effects on cytokine production, should be reevaluated as our findings and other reports are controversial to the conventional concept.

Source: Journal of Toxins

DOI: 10.1155/2013/476909

Authors: Aiguo Wu, Joseph Shiloach, Darya Alibek, Lydia Yue Li, Christopher Bradburne, Ken Alibek

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Language: English

Topic: Bacillus and Francisella bacterial research

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: National Institutes of Health, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases