Emergence of Anthrax Edema Toxin as a Master Manipulator of Macrophage and B Cell Functions.docVIP

Toxins 2010, 2, 1881-1897; doi:10.3390/toxins2071881 OPEN ACCESS toxins ISSN 2072-6651 /journal/toxins Review Emergence of Anthrax Edema Toxin as a Master Manipulator of Macrophage and B Cell Functions Bryan T. Gnade 1,?, Scott T. Moen 1, Ashok K. Chopra 1,2, Johnny W. Peterson 1,2 and Linsey A. Yeager 1,?, * 1 Department of Microbiology Immunology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; E-Mails: btgnade@ (B.T.G.); stmoen@ (S.T.M.) Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases and Sealy Center for Vaccine Development, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA; E-Mails: achopra@ (A.K.C.); jpeterso@ (J.W.P.) 2 ? These authors contributed equally to this work. * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: layeager@; Tel.: +1-409-266-6824; Fax: +1-409-266-6810. Received: 18 June 2010; in revised form: 6 July 2010 / Accepted: 12 July 2010 / Published: 19 July 2010 Abstract: Anthrax edema toxin (ET), a powerful adenylyl cyclase, is an important virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis. Until recently, only a modest amount of research was performed to understand the role this toxin plays in the organism’s immune evasion strategy. A new wave of studies have begun to elucidate the effects this toxin has on a variety of host cells. While efforts have been made to illuminate the effect ET has on cells of the adaptive immune system, such as T cells, the greatest focus has been on cells of the innate immune system, particularly the macrophage. Here we discuss the immunoevasive activities that ET exerts on macrophages, as well as new research on the effects of this toxin on B cells. Keywords: anthrax; edema toxin; macrophage; B cell; cAMP signaling  Toxins 2010, 2 1882 1. Introduction Anthrax is an asynchronous, toxin-mediated disease caused by a gram-positive bacterium, Bacillus anthracis. This disease has been studied since th