AUTHOR=Kim Suji , Park Hyun-Eui , Park Woo Bin , Kim Seo Yihl , Park Hong-Tae , Yoo Han Sang 

TITLE=Mycobacterium avium Modulates the Protective Immune Response in Canine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2020.609712

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2020.609712

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Mycobacterium avium</italic>, an opportunistic intracellular pathogen, is a member of the non-tuberculous mycobacteria species. <italic>M. avium</italic> causes respiratory disease in immunosuppressed individuals and a wide range of animals, including companion dogs and cats. In particular, the number of infected companion dogs has increased, although the underlying mechanism of <italic>M. avium</italic> pathogenesis in dogs has not been studied. Therefore, in the present study, the host immune response against <italic>M. avium</italic> in dogs was investigated by transcriptome analysis of canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells. <italic>M. avium</italic> was shown to induce different immune responses in canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells at different time points after infection. The expression of Th1-associated genes occurred early during <italic>M. avium</italic> infection, while that of Th17-associated genes increased after 12 h. In addition, the expression of apoptosis-related genes decreased and the abundance of intracellular <italic>M. avium</italic> increased in monocyte-derived macrophages after infection for 24 h. These results reveal the <italic>M. avium</italic> induces Th17 immune response and avoids apoptosis in infected canine cells. As the number of <italic>M. avium</italic> infection cases increases, the results of the present study will contribute to a better understanding of host immune responses to <italic>M. avium</italic> infection in companion dogs.</p>