Foamy Macrophages from Tuberculous Patients' Granulomas Constitute a Nutrient-Rich Reservoir for M. tuberculosis Persistence

Foamy Macrophages in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Pathogenesis

The pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is an infectious agent of tuberculosis. According to WHO report it is estimated that in 22 high burden of countries, there are 88% of TB cases and it is also estimated that 1/3 population of the planet is anchor with this bacterium [1]. Mtb modify immune system of host so that it can survive and maintain its growth in long term. Mtb can persist insi...

Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Induced Polarization of Human Macrophage Orchestrates the Formation and Development of Tuberculous Granulomas In Vitro

The tuberculous granuloma is an elaborately organized structure and one of the main histological hallmarks of tuberculosis. Macrophages, which are important immunologic effector and antigen-presenting cells, are the main cell type found in the tuberculous granuloma and have high plasticity. Macrophage polarization during bacterial infection has been elucidated in numerous recent studies; howeve...

Experimental Models of Foamy Macrophages and Approaches for Dissecting the Mechanisms of Lipid Accumulation and Consumption during Dormancy and Reactivation of Tuberculosis

Despite a slight decline since 2014, tuberculosis (TB) remains the major deadly infectious disease worldwide with about 1.5 million deaths each year and with about one-third of the population being latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiologic agent of TB. During primo-infection, the recruitment of immune cells leads to the formation of highly organized granulomas. Among the ...

Receptor-Associated Factor Family and Antiapoptotic Markers of the TNF Molecules Characteristic of Dendritic Cells Express Mycobacterium tuberculosis Granulomas of Mice Infected with Foamy Macrophages within Lung

MUSASHI-Mediated Expression of JMJD3, a H3K27me3 Demethylase, Is Involved in Foamy Macrophage Generation during Mycobacterial Infection

Foamy macrophages (FM)s harbor lipid bodies that not only assist mycobacterial persistence within the granulomas but also are sites for intracellular signaling and inflammatory mediators which are essential for mycobacterial pathogenesis. However, molecular mechanisms that regulate intracellular lipid accumulation in FMs during mycobacterial infection are not clear. Here, we report for the firs...