Type I interferon signaling mediates Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced macrophage death.

TitleType I interferon signaling mediates Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced macrophage death.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsZhang L, Jiang X, Pfau D, Ling Y, Nathan CF
JournalJ Exp Med
Volume218
Issue2
Date Published2021 Feb 01
ISSN1540-9538
Abstract

Macrophages help defend the host against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the major cause of tuberculosis (TB). Once phagocytized, Mtb resists killing by macrophages, replicates inside them, and leads to their death, releasing Mtb that can infect other cells. We found that the death of Mtb-infected mouse macrophages in vitro does not appear to proceed by a currently known pathway. Through genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening, we identified a critical role for autocrine or paracrine signaling by macrophage-derived type I IFNs in the death of Mtb-infected macrophages in vitro, and blockade of type I IFN signaling augmented the effect of rifampin, a first-line TB drug, in Mtb-infected mice. Further definition of the pathway of type I IFN-mediated macrophage death may allow for host-directed therapy of TB that is more selective than systemic blockade of type I IFN signaling.

DOI10.1084/jem.20200887
Alternate JournalJ Exp Med
PubMed ID33125053
PubMed Central IDPMC7608065
Grant ListR01 AI138940 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States

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