Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (May 2017)

The Central Role of IFI204 in IFN-β Release and Autophagy Activation during Mycobacterium bovis Infection

  • Liu Chunfa,
  • Sun Xin,
  • Li Qiang,
  • Srinand Sreevatsan,
  • Lifeng Yang,
  • Deming Zhao,
  • Xiangmei Zhou

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2017.00169
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7

Abstract

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Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is the pathogen of animals and humans that can replicate in the phagosomes of myeloid cells. Cytosolic detection of bacterial products plays a crucial role in initiating the innate immune response, including autophagy activation and interferon-β (IFN-β) release. Although IFN-β release and autophagy activation have been reported during mycobacterium infection, the mechanisms underlying remains poorly defined. Here, we demonstrated that IFN-β release increases in macrophages exposed to M. bovis and this requires the activation of the DNA sensor of interferon-γ inducible protein 204 (IFI204). Knockdown of the IFI204 in immortalized and primary murine macrophages blocked IFN-β production and autophagy marker LC3 expression. Thus, our results indicate that the IFI204 is an important sensor for innate immune responses of M. bovis infection.

Keywords