CD40, autophagy and Toxoplasma gondii.
Toxoplasma gondii represents a pathogen that survives within host cells by preventing the endosomal-lysosomal compartments from fusing with the parasitophorous vacuoles. The dogma had been that the non-fusogenic nature of these vacuoles is irreversible. Recent studies revealed that this dogma is not correct. Cell-mediated immunity through CD40 re-routes the parasitophorous vacuoles to the lysosomal compartment by a process called autophagy. Autophagosome formation around the parasitophorous vacuole results in killing of the T. gondii. CD40-induced autophagy likely contributes to resistance against T. gondii particularly in neural tissue.
Department of Pathology, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. carlos.subauste@case.edu
Carlos S
CS
Subauste
D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy / Q000276:immunology*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000276:immunology; D010588:Phagosomes / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology*
D019013:CD40 Antigens