title: Theileria-induced leukocyte transformation.
abstract: The intracellular protozoan parasites Theileria parva and T. annulata transform the cells they infect, inducing uncontrolled proliferation. This is not a trivial event as, in addition to permanently switching on the complex pathways that govern all steps of the cell cycle, the built-in apoptotic safety mechanisms that prevent 'illegitimate' cell replication also need to be inactivated. Recent experiments show that the NF-kappa B and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PtdIns-3K) pathways are important participants in the transformation process. I kappa B kinase (IKK), a pivotal kinase complex in the NF-kappa B pathway, is recruited to the parasite surface where it becomes activated. The PtdIns-3K/Akt/PKB pathway is also constitutively activated in a parasite-dependent manner, but contrary to IKK, activation is probably not triggered by direct association with the parasite.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland. dirk.dobbelaere@itpa.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Dirk A E
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dobbelaere
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rottenberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D016794:Theileria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*