Analysis of molecular mechanisms of anti-microbial activity of the host in mycobacterial infection

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461527
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Infectious disease medicine
• Research Institution: National Institute of Infectious Diseases
• Principal Investigator: Fukutomi Yasuo 国立感染症研究所, ハンセン病研究センター 感染制御部, 室長 (30189956)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 抗酸菌 / 感染症 / マクロファージ / 殺菌 / NADPHオキシダーゼ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Radicals produced by macrophages are believed to play a very important role in intracellular anti-microbial activity in mycobacterial infection. Two pathways of the radical production are widely known, one is depending on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and the other depending on NADPH oxidase. For the possibility of involvement of the pathways in mycobacterial infection, we analysed Hansen's disease, since the disease is caused by an infection with Mycobacterium leprae. We observed that metabolic activity of M.leprae in macrophages incubated in the presence of IFN-gamma (IFNg) was significantly lower than the activity of the bacilli in macrophages incubated in the absence of IFNg. Moreover, translocation of phox (phagocyte oxidase) proteins into M.leprae-containing phagosomes was significant in IFNg-stimulated macrophages by confocal laser scanning microscopic observation, indicating that in human anti-M.leprae activity could be affected by NOX-dependent pathways.

Free Research Field

感染症