Sensing Danger: Key to Activating Plant Immunity. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gust, Andrea A.; Pruitt, Rory; Nürnberger, Thorsten
• Is Part Of: Trends in plant science. Volume 22:Number 9(2017)
• Page Start: 779
• Page End: 791
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: danger signals -- plant -- metazoans -- immunity -- phytocytokine -- receptor; Botany -- Periodicals; Botanique -- Périodiques; Botany; Periodicals; 580.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2017.07.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-1385

Abstract

Abstract : In both plants and animals, defense against pathogens relies on a complex surveillance system for signs of danger. Danger signals may originate from the infectious agent or from the host itself. Immunogenic plant host factors can be roughly divided into two categories: molecules which are passively released upon cell damage ('classical' damage-associated molecular patterns, DAMPs), and peptides which are processed and/or secreted upon infection to modulate the immune response (phytocytokines). We highlight the ongoing challenge to understand how plants sense various danger signals and integrate this information to produce an appropriate immune response to diverse challenges. Trends: Innate immune systems in metazoans and plants share a similar conceptual logic. The innate immune system is designed to sense all types of danger signals rather than only distinguishing between self and non-self. Exogenous (non-host) and endogenous (host/self) danger signals are perceived by similar pattern recognition receptors. These danger signals most likely act together to bring about an appropriate immune response. Host-derived immunogenic factors can be divided into primary endogenous danger signals, which are passively released upon host damage, and secondary endogenous danger signals, which are actively processed and released upon tissue damage and other stimuli. Plant secondary endogenous danger signals modulating the immune response have similar characteristics to metazoan cytokines, and should thus be termed phytocytokines.