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JCS ePress
online publication date 9 Sep 2003
doi: 10.1242/jcs.00683
Research Article
Activation of NF-
B by Toxoplasma gondii correlates with increased expression of antiapoptotic genes and localization of phosphorylated I
B to the parasitophorous vacuole membrane
Robert E. Molestina,
T. Matthew Payne,
Isabelle Coppens,
and
Anthony P. Sinai*
* Author for correspondence (e-mail: sinai{at}uky.edu.)
Mammalian cells infected with Toxoplasma gondii are resistant to apoptosis induced by a variety of stimuli. We have demonstrated that the host transcription factor NF-
B plays a pivotal role in the T.-gondii-mediated blockade of apoptosis because inhibition is lost in cells lacking the p65 (RelA) subunit of NF-
B (p65-/-). In the present study, we examined the effects of T. gondii infection on NF-
B activation and the expression of genes involved in the apoptotic cascade. Infection of wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) with T.-gondii-induced nuclear translocation of the p50 and p65 subunits of NF-
B as examined by immunoblotting of nuclear extracts, immunofluorescence and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. A comparison of apoptotic gene expression profiles from wild-type and p65-/- MEFs revealed distinct patterns of induction in response to T. gondii infection. In particular, the differences seen in the Bcl-2 and IAP families are consistent with the antiapoptotic responses observed in the resistant wild-type cells compared with the sensitive p65-/- fibroblasts. Consistent with NF-
B activation, T. gondii infection promoted phosphorylation of the inhibitor I
B. Interestingly, phosphorylated I
B was concentrated on the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM), suggesting a parasite-directed event. Results from this study suggest that activation of NF-
B plays an important role in stimulation of antiapoptotic gene expression by T. gondii. Furthermore, recruitment of phosphorylated I
B to the PVM implies the presence of intrinsic factor(s) in T. gondii that might be used to manipulate the NF-
B signaling pathway in the host to elicit a survival response during infection.
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