Inflammasomes and Leishmania: in good times or bad, in sickness or in health

Author(s)

Zamboni, Dario S. ^[1] ; Sacks, David L. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Biol Celular & Mol Bioagentes Patogenicos, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] NIAID, Lab Parasit Dis, NIH, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892 - USA

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Current Opinion in Microbiology; v. 52, p. 70-76, DEC 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

The inflammasomes are multi-molecular platforms that are activated in host cell cytoplasm when the innate immune cells are infected with pathogens or exposed to damage signals. Many independent groups reported that Leishmania infection trigger activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages for restriction of intracellular parasite replication. Accordingly, Leishmania can dampen NLRP3 activation as an evasion strategy. In vivo, the NLRP3 inflammasome can promote parasite clearance, but the failure to eliminate parasites in the tissues together with sustained inflammasome activation can promote IL-1 p-mediated disease pathology. In this review, we discuss the recent data regarding activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in response to Leishmania and the beneficial and detrimental effects of the inflammasome during development of Leishmaniasis. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/08216-2 - CRID - Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases
• Grantee: Fernando de Queiroz Cunha
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 14/04684-4 - The inflammasome in the host response against intracellular pathogens and the microbial mechanisms for its evasion
• Grantee: Dario Simões Zamboni
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants