Abstract
Certain bacterial toxins and type-III-translocated virulence factors have a peculiar property: they exert part of their actions by modulating Rho GTPases. These toxins target the actin cytoskeleton of host cells and reorganize it to their own advantage, either to facilitate macropinocytosis, which is required for invasive bacteria to enter cells, or to block pathogen sequestration by macrophages. In addition, by acting on Rho GTPases, bacteria may also interfere with the fate of host cells, favoring survival or death depending on their needs. Rho GTPases control the activation of NF-κB, which is involved in the expression of antiapoptotic proteins and mediates immunological responses as well. Here, we give a perspective on how NF-κB may participate in linking Rho-acting toxins and apoptosis.
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Abbreviations
- GEF:
-
guanine exchange factor
- GAP:
-
GTPase activating protein
- CdA:
-
Clostridium difficile toxin A
- CdB:
-
Clostridium difficile toxin B
- LT:
-
Letal Toxin
- CNF1:
-
cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1
- CNF2:
-
cytotoxic necrotizing factor 2
- DNT:
-
Dermonecrotizing toxin
- NF-κB:
-
nuclear factor-kB
- ExoS:
-
exoenzyme S
- IL:
-
interleukin
- APC:
-
Antigen Presenting Cell
- GDI:
-
guanine dissociation inhibitor
- IAPs:
-
inhibitors of apoptosis proteins
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We are grateful to W. Malorni for a critical reading of the manuscript.
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Fiorentini, C., Falzano, L., Travaglione, S. et al. Hijacking Rho GTPases by protein toxins and apoptosis: molecular strategies of pathogenic bacteria. Cell Death Differ 10, 147–152 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.cdd.4401151
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.cdd.4401151
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