Macrophage Epithelial Reprogramming Underlies Mycobacterial Granuloma Formation and Promotes Infection.

ABSTRACT: Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in humans triggers formation of granulomas, which are tightly organized immune cell aggregates that are the central structure of tuberculosis. Infected and uninfected macrophages interdigitate, assuming an altered, flattened appearance. Although pathologists have described these changes for over a century, the molecular and cellular programs underlying this transition are unclear. Here, using the zebrafish-Mycobacterium marinum model, we found that mycobacterial granuloma formation is accompanied by macrophage induction of canonical epithelial molecules and structures. We identified fundamental macrophage reprogramming events that parallel E-cadherin-dependent mesenchymal-epithelial transitions. Macrophage-specific disruption of E-cadherin function resu

SUBMITTER: Cronan MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5268069 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature