| First Author | Aliberti J | Year | 2003 |
| Journal | Nat Immunol | Volume | 4 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 485-90 |
| PubMed ID | 12665855 | Mgi Jnum | J:125439 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3758528 | Doi | 10.1038/ni915 |
| Citation | Aliberti J, et al. (2003) Molecular mimicry of a CCR5 binding-domain in the microbial activation of dendritic cells. Nat Immunol 4(5):485-90 |
| abstractText | 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. |
