Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection of Retinal Endothelial Cells Induces Interferon Signaling Activation: Insights Into Tubercular Retinal Vasculitis.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Ocular tuberculosis (OTB) has diverse clinical presentations, among which choroidal granuloma and tubercular retinal vasculitis (TRV) are recognized as typical phenotypes. The potential role of human retinal endothelial cells (RECs) in regulating inflammation in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, particularly relevant in cases of TRV, remains elusive. This study investigated the cellular defense of Mtb-exposed RECs.

Methods

Human RECs, as a TRV model, were exposed to either live H37Rv Mtb or heat-killed (HK)-H37Rv Mtb. Total RNA and culture supernatants were collected 24 hours post-exposure, and cellular responses were characterized using RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis.

Results

Both live and HK-Mtb were internalized by RECs, bu

SUBMITTER: Putera I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12279072 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature