MptpB Promotes Mycobacteria Survival by Inhibiting the Expression of Inflammatory Mediators and Cell Apoptosis in Macrophages

Tuberculosis is a severe contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). To develop new vaccines and medicine against TB, there is an urgent need to provide insights into the mechanisms by which Mtb induces tuberculosis. In this study, we found that secreted Mtb virulence factor MptpB significantly enhanced the survival of H37Rv in macrophages. MptpB suppressed the production of iNOS, the expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-6, as well as the apoptosis of the macrophage in Mtb infected RAW264.7 cells. Mechanism investigation showed that MptpB simultaneously hampered the NF-κB and MAPK signal pathways, evidenced by its blocking of p65, IKKα, Erk1/2, and p38 phosphorylation induced by Mtb infection. MptpB also inhibited host cell p53 expression. The results demonstrated that MptpB contributed to the survival of H37Rv by inhibiting host inflammatory responses and apoptosis through impeding the NF-κB and MAPK signal pathways and p53 expression in the macrophage.