Bacillus anthracis spores stimulate cytokine and chemokine innate immune responses in human alveolar macrophages through multiple mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.

ABSTRACT: Contact with the human alveolar macrophage plays a key role in the innate immune response to Bacillus anthracis spores. Because there is a significant delay between the initial contact of the spore with the host and clinical evidence of disease, there appears to be temporary containment of the pathogen by the innate immune system. Therefore, the early macrophage response to Bacillus anthracis exposure is important in understanding the pathogenesis of this disease. In this paper, we studied the initial events after exposure to spores, beginning with the rapid internalization of spores by the macrophages. Spore exposure rapidly activated the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase, and p38. This was followed by the

SUBMITTER: Chakrabarty K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1539616 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature