Analysis of the kinase-mediated regulatory mechanism of the inflammasome by a listerial virulence factor

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24590524
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Bacteriology (including Mycology)
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Hara Hideki 京都大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 助教 (30456892)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: リステリア / インフラマソーム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Inflammasome, an intracellular protein complex, is activated after sensing of foreign compounds from pathogens or host danger molecules. Inflammasome activates caspase-1, a cysteine protease, to induce IL-1 and IL-18 secretion, and cell death. Some inflammasomes require adaptor molecule ASC to form the inflammasome, and we revealed that the phosphorylation of ASC acts as a molecular switch to activate inflammasome. This regulation was observed in the inflammasome activation induced by pathogenic infection including Listeria monocytogenes or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Interestingly, the inflammasome response was detrimental to the host under Listeria infection and Listeria facilitated the response by a virulence factor.

Free Research Field

感染免疫