Expression of Rv2031c-Rv2626c fusion protein in Mycobacterium smegmatis enhances bacillary survival and modulates innate immunity in macrophages

Jiang,Hong; Luo,Tai‑Lai; Kang,Jian; Xu,Zhi‑Kai; Wang,Li‑Mei

doi:10.3892/mmr.2018.8758

Expression of Rv2031c-Rv2626c fusion protein in Mycobacterium smegmatis enhances bacillary survival and modulates innate immunity in macrophages

Authors:
- Hong Jiang
- Tai‑Lai Luo
- Jian Kang
- Zhi‑Kai Xu
- Li‑Mei Wang
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Affiliations: Center for Infectious Diseases, Tangdu Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710038, P.R. China, Naval Medical Research Institute, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China, Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710032, P.R. China
Published online on: March 16, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8758
Pages: 7307-7312

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Abstract

Dormancy-associated antigens encoded by the dormancy survival regulon (DosR) genes are required for survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in macrophages. However, mechanisms underlying survival of Mtb in macrophages remains to be elucidated. A recombinant Mycobacterium smegmatis strain (rMs) expressing a fusion protein of two dormancy‑associated antigens Rv2031c and Rv2626c from Mtb was constructed in the present study. In an in vitro culture, growth rate of rMs was lower compared with Ms. A total of 24 h following infection of murine macrophages with rMs or Ms, percentage of viable cells decreased and the number of bacteria in viable cells increased compared with Ms, demonstrating that virulence and intracellular survival of rMs were enhanced. Compared with macrophages infected with Ms, necrosis of macrophages infected with rMs was increased, while apoptosis was inhibited. Macrophages infected with rMs secreted more interferon‑γ and interleukin‑6, but fewer nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor‑α, compared with macrophages infected with Ms. The present study demonstrated that the fusion protein composed of dormancy‑associated antigens Rv2031c and Rv2626c in Ms serves a physiological function of a dormancy‑associated antigen and modulates innate immunity of host macrophages, therefore favoring intracellular bacillary survival.

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