Open AccessMacrophage-Derived Cell Lines Do Not Express Proinflammatory Cytokines after Exposure to Bacillus anthracis Lethal Toxin
Author(s) -
James L. Erwin,
Luis M. DaSilva,
Sina Bavari,
Stephen F. Little,
Arthur M. Friedlander,
Tran C. Chanh
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.69.2.1175-1177.2001
Subject(s) - proinflammatory cytokine , bacillus anthracis , biology , toxin , microbiology and biotechnology , cytokine , immunology , macrophage , inflammation , in vitro , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics
We present evidence that Bacillus anthracis lethal toxin (LT) suppresses rather than induces proinflammatory cytokine production in macrophages. Suppression is observed with extremely low levels of LT and involves inhibition of transcription of cytokine messenger RNA. Thus, LT may contribute to anthrax pathogenesis by suppressing the inflammatory response.