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SopE-mediated innate immune activation

Posted by SWinter on 11 Sep 2010 at 00:00 GMT

The question by which mechanism SopE contributes to intestinal inflammation is of great importance. For the curious reader, I would like to point out some other interesting studies from the same group that may add another layer of complexity.
1. SopE stimulates JNK activation and nuclear (NF-kB-dependent) responses in COS-1 cells (fibroblast-like cells) (Hardt et al., Cell. 1998 May 29;93(5):815-26).
2. In a murine model of Salmonella-induced colitis, SopE induces inflammation by activating caspase-1 (and not NF-kB) predominantly in stromal cells (i.e. most likely in epithelial cells) but not in myeloid derived cells (such as macrophages) (Muller et al., Cell Host Microbe. 2009 Aug 20;6(2):125-36.)
3. In this paper, Hoffmann et al. conclude based on tissue culture experiments that SopE is able to induce caspase-1 activation in RAW264.7 cells (murine macrophage-like cells).
This paper is of great interest because it reopens the question in which relevant cell type and by which mechanism (NF-kB or caspase-1) SopE elicits inflammation in vivo.

No competing interests declared.