The Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Controls the Inflammatory Response in Infections Caused by Pathogenic Bacteria

Figure 4

Frizzled receptors reduce inflammation. In epithelial cells and macrophages, Mycobacterium tuberculosis induces NF-κB-dependent expression of IL-8, TNFα, and IFNγ (left panel) through TLR signaling. In turn, TNFα and IFNγ stimulation increases Fzd1, Wnt6, and Wnt5a expression at the membrane cell surface (middle panel). Finally, the binding of Wnt3a, Wnt5a, or Wnt6 to Fzd1 (right panel) induces stabilization of β-catenin, inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. This interaction of β-catenin with NF-κB decreases the expression of proinflammatory molecules such as TNFα.