MDSC depletion during immunization with heat-killed <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> increases protection against BCG infection.

ABSTRACT: Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases globally. Although the approved human Bacille-Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccines provide limited protection, a vaccine based on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) has yet to be approved. Our previous findings demonstrated that s.c. immunization with heat-killed Mtb significantly increased the number of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSC) in mice. Thus, we hypothesized that the defense against a subsequent BCG infection would be compromised in Mtb-immunized mice. Surprisingly, mice vaccinated with Mtb were protected against BCG infection and exhibited elevated frequencies and activation of dendritic cells (DC) and mycobacteria-specific T cells, despite high frequencies and suppressor activity of M-MDSC. Gene

SUBMITTER: Aintablian A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12350254 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature