title: Expression of Nucleotide-oligomerization Domain (NOD) and Related Genes in Mouse Tissues Infected with Mycobacterium leprae.
abstract: The nucleotide-oligomerization domain (NOD) is an important molecule involved in host defense against bacterial infection. To study the role of NODs in the host response to Mycobacterium leprae, we measured the mRNA levels of NODs and related genes in infected mouse tissues. The mRNA expression of NOD1, NOD2, caspase-1 and ASC was increased in mouse footpads. Whereas NOD2 expression in macrophages was increased at 2 and 24 h post-infection with M. leprae, there was no expression of NOD1 at these time points. An increase in caspase-1 expression was observed at 2 h and continued at 24 h. However, the expression of ASC was increased only at the early time point. The expression of caspase-1 is regulated by NOD2-dependent pathway in established HEK 293. Our results suggest NOD2, rather than NOD1, may be associated with the host response to M. leprae and that caspase-1 activation is essential for the host response.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hansen's Disease, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hansen's Disease, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea.
authors.forename: Gue-Tae
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chronic Disease, College of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kang
keywords: ASC; Caspase-1; Mycobacterium leprae; NOD2