LAG-3 potentiates the survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in host phagocytes by modulating mitochondrial signaling in an in-vitro granuloma model

PLoS One. 2017 Sep 7;12(9):e0180413. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180413. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

CD4+ T-cell mediated Th1 immune responses are critical for immunity to TB. The immunomodulatory protein, lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) decreases Th1-type immune responses in T-cells. LAG-3 expression is significantly induced in the lungs of macaques with active TB and correlates with increased bacterial burden. Overproduction of LAG-3 can greatly diminish responses and could lead to uncontrolled Mtb replication. To assess the effect of LAG-3 on the progression of Mtb infection, we developed a co-culture system wherein blood-derived macrophages are infected with Mtb and supplemented with macaque blood or lung derived CD4+ T-cells. Silencing LAG-3 signaling in macaque lung CD4+ T-cells enhanced killing of Mtb in co-cultures, accompanied by reduced mitochondrial electron transport and increased IFN-γ expression. Thus, LAG-3 may modulate adaptive immunity to Mtb infection by interfering with the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Better understanding this pathway could allow us to circumvent immune features that promote disease.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity / genetics
  • Adaptive Immunity / physiology
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Granuloma / immunology
  • Granuloma / metabolism*
  • Granuloma / microbiology
  • Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 Protein
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Mitochondria / immunology
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / microbiology
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / pathogenicity*
  • Phagocytes / immunology
  • Phagocytes / metabolism*
  • Phagocytes / microbiology*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Transcriptome / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 Protein