Cholesterol-dependent cytolysins produced by diverse bacterial pathogens are internalized by host cells and translocate to the trans-Golgi network (TGN). They remodel the TGN into a platform for assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a crucial innate immune signaling pathway in host defense and pro-inflammatory diseases.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Chen, J. & Chen, Z. J. PtdIns4P on dispersed trans-Golgi network mediates NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Nature 564, 71–76 (2018). This paper reports TGN remodeling as a common essential signal for NLRP3 inflammasome activation.
Peraro, M. D. & van der Goot, F. G. Pore-forming toxins: ancient, but never really out of fashion. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 14, 77–92 (2016). A review article that discusses the virulence mechanisms and functions of pore-forming toxins, including CDCs.
Tanenbaum, M. E., Gilbert, L. A., Qi, L. S., Weissman, J. S. & Vale, R. D. A protein-tagging system for signal amplification in gene expression and fluorescence imaging. Cell 159, 635–646 (2014). This paper reports the development of the SunTag technology.
Hotze, E. M. et al. Identification and characterization of the first cholesterol-dependent cytolysins from Gram-negative bacteria. Infect. Immun. 81, 216–25 (2013). This paper reports desulfolysin as one of the only two currently known CDCs in Gram-negative bacteria.
Hartmann, S., Radochonski, L., Ye, C., Martinez-Sobrido, L. & Chen, J. SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a drives dynamic dense body formation for optimal viral infectivity. Nat. Commun. 16, 4393 (2025). This paper reports the discovery of the 3a dense body, a membrane structure that regulates spike processing and infectivity during SARS-CoV-2 virion assembly.
Schneider, C., Rasband, W. & Eliceiri, K. NIH Image to ImageJ: 25 years of image analysis. Nat. Methods 9, 671–675 (2012). ImageJ is a software tool for scientific image analysis.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Xiao, N. et al. Type A cholesterol-dependent cytolysins translocate to the trans-Golgi network for NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Nat. Immunol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-025-02277-6 (2025).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bacterial toxins rewire the trans-Golgi network to activate the inflammatory response. Nat Immunol 26, 1639–1640 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-025-02278-5
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-025-02278-5
