AUTHOR=Hikichi Haruka , Seto Shintaro , Wakabayashi Keiko , Hijikata Minako , Keicho Naoto 

TITLE=Transcription factor MAFB controls type I and II interferon response-mediated host immunity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.962306

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.962306

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>MAFB</italic>, v-maf avian musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B, has been identified as a candidate gene for early tuberculosis (TB) onset in Thai and Japanese populations. Here, we investigated the genome-wide transcriptional profiles of MAFB-knockdown (KD) macrophages infected with <italic>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</italic> (<italic>Mtb</italic>) to highlight the potential role of MAFB in host immunity against TB. Gene expression analysis revealed impaired type I and type II interferon (IFN) responses and enhanced oxidative phosphorylation in MAFB-KD macrophages infected with <italic>Mtb</italic>. The expression of inflammatory chemokines, including IFN-γ-inducible genes, was confirmed to be significantly reduced by knockdown of MAFB during <italic>Mtb</italic> infection. A similar effect of MAFB knockdown on type I and type II IFN responses and oxidative phosphorylation was also observed when <italic>Mtb</italic>-infected macrophages were activated by IFN-γ. Taken together, our results demonstrate that MAFB is involved in the immune response and metabolism in <italic>Mtb</italic>-infected macrophages, providing new insight into MAFB as a candidate gene to guide further study to control TB.</p>