β-catenin-driven innate and metabolic reprograming in macrophages fuel T-cell-dependent inflammation in Toxoplasma gondii infection: implications for therapeutic intervention

Titleβ-catenin-driven innate and metabolic reprograming in macrophages fuel T-cell-dependent inflammation in Toxoplasma gondii infection: implications for therapeutic intervention
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2026
AuthorsKumari, G, Kumar, A, Muduli, R, Das, M, Bhowmik, P, Singha, B, Namdeo, A, Dcosta, C, Wadhwa, N, Maras, JSingh, Kundu, R, Gupta, N, Anand, R, Shanmugam, D, Majumdar, T
JournalCell Death & Disease
Volume17
Issue1
Pagination568
Date PublishedJUN
Type of ArticleArticle
ISSN2041-4889
Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii activates innate immunity via TLR11/12 in mice, but the lack of functional human counterparts leaves a gap in understanding parasite sensing in humans. Here, we bridge this gap by uncovering a host-intrinsic sensing mechanism, wherein beta-catenin signaling mediates immune recognition of T. gondii. Notably, this parasite hijacks the PI3K-AKT-beta-catenin pathway in macrophages to promote its replication. While beta-catenin ablation, either genetically or pharmacologically (XAV939), disavows this process, thereby inhibiting replication. Phospho-beta-catenin-TCF4 drives IRF4 transcription, followed by phosphorylation of IRF4, which regulates CYBB transcription. Augmented CYBB enhances mitochondrial-ROS and triggers mitophagy via PINK1/PARKIN, whereas ablation of beta-catenin preserves mitochondrial fitness, thereby impeding parasite growth. Enhanced ROS can oxidize host mitochondrial DNA, which then functions as a host-associated molecular pattern (HAMP). This activates the cytosolic pathogen recognition receptor (PRR) AIM2, triggering the AIM2-NLRP3-ASC-caspase-1-IL-1 beta inflammasome cascade. This cascade leads to gasdermin-D-mediated pyroptosis, a process that critically depends on the phosphorylation of beta-catenin. T. gondii's ASP5 protease plays an essential role in the phosphorylation of beta-catenin-mediated inflammasome activation. Metabolically, beta-catenin-dependent enhanced ROS stabilized HIF-1 alpha, which stimulates the HKII-LDH-A axis, promoting the Warburg effect, histone acetylation and pro-inflammatory M1-macrophage polarization (IL-12/IL-6/IL-23/TNF-alpha). beta-catenin ablation shifts metabolism to oxidative-phosphorylation, fostering M2-phenotype (IL-2/IL-10/TGF-beta) that abrogates parasites survival. beta-catenin also strengthens MHC-TCR avidity, driving Th1/Tc1, Th9/Tc9, and Th17/Tc17 paradigm, whereas beta-catenin inhibition promotes anti-inflammatory Th2/Tc2/Threg/Tcreg differentiation. Additionally, macrophage intrinsic beta-catenin dictates metabolic divergence in both CD4(+) and CD8(+)T-cells. Notably, beta-catenin-deletion in macrophages protects mice (beta-cat Delta M Phi) against infection, highlighting that XAV939 has therapeutic potential against toxoplasmosis.

DOI10.1038/s41419-026-08953-1
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign)

Foreign

Impact Factor (IF)

11.4

Divison category: 
Biochemical Sciences
Database: 
Web of Science (WoS)

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