Host-directed therapy of tuberculosis based on interleukin-1 and type I interferon crosstalk.

ABSTRACT: Tuberculosis remains second only to HIV/AIDS as the leading cause of mortality worldwide due to a single infectious agent. Despite chemotherapy, the global tuberculosis epidemic has intensified because of HIV co-infection, the lack of an effective vaccine and the emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Alternative host-directed strategies could be exploited to improve treatment efficacy and outcome, contain drug-resistant strains and reduce disease severity and mortality. The innate inflammatory response elicited by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) represents a logical host target. Here we demonstrate that interleukin-1 (IL-1) confers host resistance through the induction of eicosanoids that limit excessive type I interferon (IFN) production and foster bacterial containment. We further

SUBMITTER: Mayer-Barber KD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4809146 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature