Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii releases factors that potently stimulate production of interleukin-12 (IL-12) from dendritic cells (DCs). Purification of this activity showed that cyclophilin-18 (C-18) was its principal component, and antibodies generated against recombinant C-18 inhibited tachyzoite extract-induced synthesis of IL-12. Recombinant C-18 showed high affinity for and triggered cell signaling through CCR5, a chemokine receptor important in parasite-induced IL-12 production by DCs. These findings suggest that the unusual potency of T gondii in inducing IL-12 from DCs results from its synthesis of a unique chemokine mimic that signals through CCR5. The ability to generate this strong protective response may benefit parasite transmission by preventing the protozoan from overwhelming its intermediate hosts.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 485-490 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Nature Immunology |
Volume | 4 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2003 |
Keywords
- IMMUNITY
- IMMUNOPHILINS
- INTERLEUKIN-12
- CHEMOKINE RECEPTOR
- ANTIGEN
- MALARIA
- BIOCHEMICAL-CHARACTERIZATION
- TOXOPLASMA-GONDII
- RESISTANCE
- CYCLOPHILIN