Journal article
STAT1 Signaling in Astrocytes Is Essential for Control of Infection in the Central Nervous System
Shinya Hidano, Louise M Randall, Lucas Dawson, Hans K Dietrich, Christoph Konradt, Peter J Klover, Beena John, Tajie H Harris, Qun Fang, Bradley Turek, Takashi Kobayashi, Lothar Hennighausen, Daniel P Beiting, Anita A Koshy, Christopher A Hunter
MBIO | AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY | Published : 2016
Abstract
The local production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) is important to control Toxoplasma gondii in the brain, but the basis for these protective effects is not fully understood. The studies presented here reveal that the ability of IFN-γ to inhibit parasite replication in astrocytes in vitro is dependent on signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and that mice that specifically lack STAT1 in astrocytes are unable to limit parasite replication in the central nervous system (CNS). This susceptibility is associated with a loss of antimicrobial pathways and increased cyst formation in astrocytes. These results identify a critical role for astrocytes in limiting the replication of a..
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Awarded by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Awarded by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES AND DIGESTIVE AND KIDNEY DISEASES
Awarded by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS AND STROKE
Funding Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a Fellowship from Strategic Young Researcher Overseas Visits Program for Accelerating Brain Circulation (S.H.), NIH grants AI41158 and 5R21EY021314 (C.A.H.), and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (C.K.). L.H. and P.J.K. were supported by the IRP of the NIDDK/NIH, while A.A.K. was supported by NIH NS65116.