Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C of Bacillus anthracis down-modulates the immune response
Lauren A Zenewicz1, Zhengyu Wei, Howard Goldfine
1Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Abstract:
Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipases (PI-PLCs) are virulence factors produced by many pathogenic bacteria, including Bacillus anthracis and Listeria monocytogenes. Bacillus PI-PLC differs from Listeria PI-PLC in that it has strong activity for cleaving GPI-anchored proteins. Treatment of murine DCs with Bacillus, but not Listeria, PI-PLC inhibited dendritic cell (DC) activation by TLR ligands. Infection of mice with Listeria expressing B. anthracis PI-PLC resulted in a reduced Ag-specific CD4 T cell response. These data indicate that B. anthracis PI-PLC down-modulates DC function and T cell responses, possibly by cleaving GPI-anchored proteins important for TLR-mediated DC activation.
Related Concept Videos
Inhalation Anthrax
Regulation of Bacterial Virulence
Phosphoinositides and PIPs
Different phosphoinositides are synthesized and recruited on the cytosolic face of the plasma membrane. The localization of specific phosphoinositides concentrated in separate membrane...
IP3/DAG Signaling Pathway
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...


