title: Toxoplasma gondii mitogen-activated protein kinases are associated with inflammasome activation in infected mice.
abstract: Toxoplasma gondii can activate the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing proteins NLRP1/3 inflammasomes, which mediate host resistance to the infection. Here we showed that deletion of mitogen-activated protein kinases MAPK1 and MAPK2 of type I parasite decreases acute virulence in mice, characterized by low levels of interleukin (IL)-18, NLRP1/3, ASC, and caspase-1, and high levels of IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-β transcripts. Additionally, the mutants increased phosphorylation of STAT1, and decreased phosphorylation of STAT3. These findings suggest that MAPKs are associated with inflammasome activation in T. gondii-infected mice, which may contribute to new insight into the pathogenesis of T. gondii infection.
authors.affiliation: Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, 666 Liuying West Road, Changchun 130122, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Shuchao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, 666 Liuying West Road, Changchun 130122, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Zedong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, 666 Liuying West Road, Changchun 130122, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, 666 Liuying West Road, Changchun 130122, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhongyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, 666 Liuying West Road, Changchun 130122, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhongyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, 2888 Xincheng Street, Changchun 130118, Jilin Province, China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Military Veterinary Institute, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, 666 Liuying West Road, Changchun 130122, Jilin Province, China. Electronic address: liuquan1973@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D058847:Inflammasomes; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: IFN-β; IL-18; Inflammasome; Mitogen-activated protein kinase; Toxoplasma gondii