Targeting apoptosis pathways in infections

Journal of Leukocyte Biology: An Official Publication of the Reticuloendothelial Society

article

Thomas Naderer¹  Maria Cecilia Fulcher¹ 

[1] Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Monash University

关键词: BCL-2;    caspase;    cell death;    inflammation;    Legionella;    mitochondria;   

DOI  :  10.1189/JLB.4MR0717-286R

学科分类：生理学

来源: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

【 摘 要 】

The programmed cell death pathway of apoptosis is essential for mammalian development and immunity as it eliminates unwanted and dangerous cells. As part of the cellular immune response, apoptosis removes the replicative niche of intracellular pathogens and enables the resolution of infections. To subvert apoptosis, pathogens have evolved a diverse range of mechanisms. In some circumstances, however, pathogens express effector molecules that induce apoptotic cell death. In this review, we focus on selected host-pathogen interactions that affect apoptotic pathways. We discuss how pathogens control the fate of host cells and how this determines the outcome of infections. Finally, small molecule inhibitors that activate apoptosis in cancer cells can also induce apoptotic cell death of infected cells. This suggests that targeting host death factors to kill infected cells is a potential therapeutic option to treat infectious diseases.

【 授权许可】

CC BY