Anthrax and the inflammasome

Microbes Infect. 2012 May;14(5):392-400. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2011.12.005. Epub 2011 Dec 17.

Abstract

Anthrax lethal toxin (LT), a major virulence determinant of anthrax disease, induces vascular collapse in mice and rats. LT activates the Nlrp1 inflammasome in macrophages and dendritic cells, resulting in caspase-1 activation, IL-1β and IL-18 maturation and a rapid cell death (pyroptosis). This review presents the current understanding of LT-induced activation of Nlrp1 in cells and its consequences for toxin-mediated effects in rodent toxin and spore challenge models.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Anthrax / pathology*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / metabolism*
  • Bacillus anthracis / pathogenicity
  • Bacterial Toxins / metabolism*
  • Cell Death
  • Dendritic Cells / microbiology
  • Dendritic Cells / physiology
  • Inflammasomes / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / microbiology
  • Macrophages / physiology
  • Mice
  • NLR Proteins
  • Rats

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Inflammasomes
  • NLR Proteins
  • NLRP1 protein, human
  • anthrax toxin