Mycobacterium tuberculosis Protein Rv3841 Activates Dendritic Cells and Contributes to a T Helper 1 Immune Response

Figure 2

DC maturation triggered by Rv3841 involves activation of MAPKs and NF-κB. (a) Protein production over time by DCs treated with 10 μg/mL Rv3841. Cell lysates were subjected to SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting analysis was carried out by means of antibodies specific to phospho-p38 (p-p38), p-ERK1/2, p-JNK, p-IκB-α, and IκB-α. α-Tubulin served as the loading control for the cytosolic proteins. Representative blots from five independent experiments are shown. (b, c) DCs were treated with pharmacological inhibitors of p38 (SB203580, 20 μM), ERK1/2 (U0126, 10 μM), JNK (SP600125, 20 μM), or NF-κB (Bay 11-7082, 20 μM) or with DMSO (vehicle control) for 1 h prior to treatment with 10 μg/mL Rv3841 for 24 h. (b) The expression of costimulatory molecules was determined by flow cytometry. (c) The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-12p70 in the culture media were determined by ELISAs. Mean values ± SD () are shown; or : a significant difference from Rv3841-treated DCs, as determined by unpaired Student’s t-test.

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