AUTHOR=Jin Xiaoxia , Gong Pengtao , Zhang Xichen , Li Guojiang , Zhu Tao , Zhang Mengge , Li Jianhua 

TITLE=Activation of ERK Signaling via TLR11 Induces IL-12p40 Production in Peritoneal Macrophages Challenged by Neospora caninum

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2017.01393

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2017.01393

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Neospora caninum</italic>, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, can infect a large variety of vertebrate hosts including the most economically important cattle. Infection with <italic>N</italic>. <italic>caninum</italic> is a main cause of abortion in both dairy and beef cattle, which causes great economic losses worldwide. However, the mechanism of host cell infection by <italic>N</italic>. <italic>caninum</italic> has not been fully elucidated, especially in terms of inflammatory responses. In this study, the effect of TLR-ERK signaling pathway on the synthesis of pro-inflammatory interleukin-12p40 in mouse peritoneal macrophages (PMϕ) challenged by <italic>N</italic>. <italic>caninum</italic> was investigated. Our results suggested that <italic>N</italic>. <italic>caninum</italic> infection quickly activated MEK-ERK signaling via TLR11 in PMϕ. In addition, <italic>N</italic>. <italic>caninum</italic> infection also caused upregulated production of IL-12p40 by PMϕ, which was significantly reduced with the blockade of TLR11/MEK/ERK pathway, suggesting that this upregulation of IL-12 p40 was TLR11 and MEK-ERK-activation dependent.</p>