title: The role of porins in neisserial pathogenesis and immunity.
abstract: Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria responsible for bacterial meningitis and septicemia, and the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea, respectively. Porins are the most represented outer membrane proteins in the pathogenic Neisseria species, functioning as pores for the exchange of ions, and are characterized by a trimeric beta-barrel structure. Neisserial porins have been shown to act as adjuvants in the immune response via activation of B cells and other antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Their effect on the immune response is mediated by upregulation of the costimulatory molecule B7-2 (CD86) on the surface of APCs, an effect that is Toll-like receptor 2- and MyD88-dependent. The effect of neisserial porins on the immune system also involves interaction with components of the complement cascade. Furthermore, neisserial porins co-localize with mitochondria of target cells, where they appear to modulate apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Massari
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ram
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.forename: Lee M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wetzler
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D003171:Complement Pathway, Classical / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016870:Neisseriaceae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D018272:Porins / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D018272:Porins; C057699:porin protein, Neisseria