Figure 8.

Schematic representation of the defined bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) protein signature. Multiple BCG component agonists activate TLR2&4 and Dectin-1&2, host sensors that are expressed on diverse immune cells. This triggers the activation of ROS production and NF-κB signaling, resulting in the induction of a first wave of cytokines and chemokines. In turn, these stimulatory host factors act to amplify the response in an autocrine and paracrine manner through a combined activation of cytokine receptors, specifically IL-6R, IL-1R, and TNFR, as well as others, and the subsequent NF-κB and JAK-mediated signaling, thereby promoting the release of a second wave of cytokines and chemokines. TLR, toll-like receptor; ROS, reactive oxygen species; NF-κB, nuclear factor-kappa B; JAK, Janus kinase.