Tissue‐specific down‐regulation of RIPK 2 in Mycobacterium leprae‐infected nu/nu mice

Abstract

RIPK 2 is adapter molecule in the signal pathway involved in Toll-like receptors. However, there has been no reported association between receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase 2 (RIPK 2) expression and the infectious diseases involving mycobacterial infection. This study found that its expression was down-regulated in the footpads and skin but was up-regulated in the liver of Mycobacterium leprae-infected nu/nu mice compared with those of the M. leprae non-infected nu/nu mice. It was observed that the interlukin-12p40 and interferon-gamma genes involved in the susceptibility of M. leprae were down-regulated in the skin but were up-regulated in the liver. Overall, this suggests that regulation of RIPK 2 expression is tissue-specifically associated with M. leprae infection.

LRRK2 and RIPK2 Variants in the NOD 2-Mediated Signaling Pathway Are Associated with Susceptibility to Mycobacterium leprae in Indian Populations

“…The cytosolic pattern recognition receptor NOD1 and NOD2 also activates the RIPK2 gene [15]. The gene encoding receptor- interacting serine-threonine kinase 2 ( RIPK2 ) located on the long arm of chromosome 8 (8q21) is essential for signaling through the Toll-like receptors [15], [16]. In addition, the RIPK2 interaction with NOD2 enhances NF-κB activity making it an important player in cellular immune response [17].…”