Mycobacterium tuberculosis serine protease Rv3668c can manipulate the host-pathogen interaction via Erk-NF-κB axis-mediated cytokine differential expression.

ABSTRACT: Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) remains a serious global public health concern. About one-third of the global population has been latently infected with this pathogen. MTB proteases are important virulence factors and involve in subverting the host immunity. MTB protease Rv3668c was implicated in drug action and dormancy by Gene Expression Omnibus data. To define the role of Rv3668c in pathogen-host interaction, we constructed recombinant strain Mycobacterium smegmatis-Rv3668c (Ms-Rv3668c). The resultant strains were used to challenge the human macrophage cell line U937. The cytokine levels and the survival of recombinants and macrophages were monitored. The results showed that recombinant Ms-Rv3668c specifically upregulated the secretion of proinflammatory cytokine

SUBMITTER: Zhao Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4150399 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature