The Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipid, PDIM, inhibits the NADPH oxidase and autophagy.

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the etiological agent of tuberculosis (TB), remains a significant global health challenge. Mtb is transmitted by respiratory aerosols and infects a variety of myeloid populations. Our recent study shows that the Mtb virulence lipid phthiocerol dimycocerosate (PDIM) promotes the intracellular survival of Mtb in macrophages by inhibiting NADPH oxidase, thereby impairing LC3-associated phagocytosis, and in vivo PDIM also antagonizes canonical macroautophagy/autophagy. In addition, mice defective in autophagy in myeloid cells fail to develop B-cell follicles in the lungs during chronic infection. Here, we present a summary of our recent publication, highlighting the most significant findings and discussing how they provide new insight into the role of autophagy and the diversity of lung myeloid cells in the pathogenesis of Mtb.