A number of pattern recognition receptors, including NODlike receptors are involved in key steps of DC maturation
and migration (15). NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domaincontaining protein 3) is an intracellular sensor that is synthesized
in response to a “priming signal” involving the engagement of
cytokine or Toll-like receptors and further activated by pathogenor damage-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs/DAMPs) such
as ATP. This process triggers caspase-1 activation, which
cleaves pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 into mature cytokines further
secreted during the adaptive immune response (16, 17). While
IL-1β favors efficient protective T cell responses (16, 18),
notably Th17-mediated immunity (17, 19, 20), IL-18 potentiates
IL-12-dependent development of IFN-γ-producing Th1 cells
(17, 21). In DCs and macrophages, NLRP3 is activated in
response to bacteria (22–24), fungi (25, 26), viruses (27, 28),
and certain parasites (29). Recent studies evaluated NLRP3
activation in Leishmania-infected macrophages in vitro and
in vivo (30, 31). While a previous study showed that L. am
promastigotes caused NLRP3 activation in infected tissues in
vivo (31), our recent study revealed that L. am amastigotes
did not activate the inflammasome, neither in vitro in

Frontiers in Immunology | www.frontiersin.org

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Mice
Female BALB/c mice and Swiss nu/nu mice were purchased
from Charles River (Saint Germain-sur-l’Arbresle, France).
Female Fcer1g knockout (BALB/cByJMTac-Fcer1gtm1 N12) and
corresponding wild type mice were purchased from Taconic
(Taconic Biosciences, Inc.).

### Language ###
English

### Assessment ###
We can ask about where the mice used in the study were sourced from, which is a clear factual detail.

### Query ###
Where can I buy BALB/c mice for laboratory research?

This query is natural, specific, and something a researcher might ask without knowing about this particular text. It can be answered from the text (Charles River) but is framed as a general question about sourcing laboratory mice.
Where can I buy BALB/c mice for laboratory research?

This query is natural, specific, and something a researcher might ask without knowing about this particular text. It can be answered from the text (Charles River) but is framed as a general question about sourcing laboratory mice.