Open AccessMacrophage signalling upon mycobacterial infection: the MAP kinases lead the way
Author(s) -
Schorey Jeffrey S.,
Cooper Andrea M.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cellular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.542
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1462-5822
pISSN - 1462-5814
DOI - 10.1046/j.1462-5822.2003.00263.x
Subject(s) - biology , effector , macrophage , chemokine , mapk/erk pathway , immune system , mitogen activated protein kinase , microbiology and biotechnology , macrophage activating factor , kinase , antimycobacterial , protein kinase a , signal transduction , mycobacterium tuberculosis , immunology , lymphokine , tuberculosis , biochemistry , in vitro , medicine , pathology
Summary Mycobacteria activate a series of macrophage signalling pathways upon engaging host cell receptors and during the invasion process. These signals initiate a cascade of events leading to the production of immune effector molecules including cytokines, chemokines and reactive nitrogen intermediates. This response by the macrophage is critical for the control of the mycobacterial infection and, not surprisingly, pathogenic mycobacteria have evolved mechanisms to limit this macrophage activation. Recent data has suggested that macrophages infected with pathogenic compared to non‐pathogenic mycobacteria are restricted in their activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Mitogen activated protein kinase activation in macrophages appears to play an important role in promoting antimycobacterial activity and in the production of various effector molecules following a mycobacterial infection. Therefore, the ability of pathogenic mycobacteria to limit MAPK activity is likely an important virulence mechanism and may be a potential therapeutic target.