AUTHOR=Xia Aihong , Li Xin , Quan Juanjuan , Chen Xiang , Xu Zhengzhong , Jiao Xinan 

TITLE=Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv0927c Inhibits NF-κB Pathway by Downregulating the Phosphorylation Level of IκBα and Enhances Mycobacterial Survival

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.721370

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2021.721370

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Through long-term coevolution with its host, <italic>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</italic> (<italic>M. tuberculosis</italic>) uses multiple strategies to escape host defenses. The <italic>M. tuberculosis</italic> Rv0927c protein is predicted to be a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase related to bacterial metabolism. However, the role of Rv0927c during <italic>M. tuberculosis</italic> infection remains unclear. Here, we observed that Rv0927c inhibited the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β, an effect dependent on NF-κB and p38 pathways. Western blot analysis of macrophages infected with recombinant <italic>Mycobacterium smegmatis</italic> strains showed that Rv0927c attenuated NF-κB activation by downregulating the phosphorylation of IκBα. Additionally, Rv0927c enhanced intracellular survival of <italic>M. smegmatis</italic> and pathological effects in mice. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that Rv0927c functions as a regulator of inflammatory genes and enhances the survival of <italic>M. smegmatis</italic>.</p>