Copper regulates the host innate immune response against bacterial infection via activation of ALPK1 kinase.

ABSTRACT: Copper is an essential trace element for the human body, and its requirement for optimistic immune functions has been recognized for decades. How copper is involved in the innate immune pathway, however, remains to be clarified. Here, we report that copper serves as a signal molecule to regulate the kinase activity of alpha-kinase 1 (ALPK1), a cytosolic pattern-recognition receptor (PRR), and therefore promotes host cell defense against bacterial infection. We show that in response to infection, host cells actively accumulate copper in the cytosol, and the accumulated cytosolic copper enhances host cell defense against evading pathogens, including intracellular and, unexpectedly, extracellular bacteria. Subsequently, we demonstrate that copper activates the innate immune pathway of host ce

SUBMITTER: Lu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10823219 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature