IFN-γ-mediated neuronal defense mechanism targets Toxoplasma
Caio Andreeta Figueiredo1, Ildiko Rita Dunay2
1Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Health Campus Immunology, Infectiology and Inflammation (GC-I3), Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Toxoplasma gondii encysts preferentially within neurons in the central nervous system, establishing lifelong persistence. Despite recent discoveries, this neuronal preference was thought, in part, to be secondary to a lack of neuronal cell-autonomous immunity. By showing that neurons can mount interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-mediated cell-autonomous anti-T. gondii defenses, Chandrasekaran et al. have challenged long held assumptions.
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