Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global healthcare issue. Understanding the host-pathogen interactions in TB is vital to develop strategies and therapeutic tools for the control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). In this study, transcriptome analyses of macrophages infected with either the virulent Mtb strain H37Rv (Rv) or the avirulent Mtb strain H37Ra (Ra) were carried out and 750 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. As expected, the DEGs were mainly involved in the induction of innate immune responses against mycobacterial infections. Among the DEGs, solute carrier family 7 member 2 (Slc7a2) was more strongly expressed in Ra-infected macrophages. Induction of SLC7A2 was important for macrophages to control the intracellular survival of Mtb. Our results imply that SLC7A2 plays an important role in macrophages during Mtb infection. Our findings could prove useful for the development of new therapeutic strategies to control TB infection.
Highlights
Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is one of the main infectious diseases in the world[1]
Many studies have focused on mycobacterial transcriptome analysis, little is known about the transcriptome of macrophages infected with virulent Rv and avirulent Ra
SLC7A2 is a member of the cationic amino acid transporter (CAT) family, which transports arginine[29]
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is one of the main infectious diseases in the world[1]. The avirulent Mtb strain H37Ra (Ra) increases the synthesis of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), causing induction prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in infected cells[5]. The virulent Mtb strain H37Rv (Rv) increases production of LXA4, which prevents COX2 mRNA expression[6]. It is evident that gene expression differs in macrophages infected with various mycobacterial strains. It is still not fully clear which gene is www.nature.com/scientificreports/. In studies of pathogenic diseases, RNA-Seq has been used to reveal changes in gene expression for infectious bacteria, viruses, and fungi[14,15,16]. To understand the interactions of Mtb and the host immune cells, transcriptome differences in macrophages infected with virulent or avirulent Mtb strains must be clarified
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