Publications by authors named "Michio Aiko"
Objective: Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A Streptococcus; GAS) causes a variety of infections that include life-threatening, severe invasive GAS infections, such as streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS), with > 30% mortality rate, despite effective antibiotics and treatment options. STSS clinical isolates highly express streptolysin O (SLO), a member of a large family of pore-forming toxins called cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs). SLO is an important toxic factor for GAS and may be an effective therapeutic target for the treatment of STSS.
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- Severe invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection can bypass the body's initial immune defenses, but immature myeloid cells (γIMCs) help to counteract this with their production of interferon (IFN)-γ.
- In a study using a mouse model, it was found that γIMCs first recognize GAS through the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), which triggers the production of interleukin (IL)-6.
- The IL-6 then promotes the activation of another receptor, called Mincle, which is crucial for γIMC's defense against the GAS infection; blocking IL-6 impairs this protective mechanism.