Rv3369 Induces Cytokine Interleukin-1β Production and Enhances Mycobacterium smegmatis Intracellular Survival

The pathogenesis of tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is largely because of the pathogen's successful entry and survival within macrophages. We predicted that rv3369, a gene encoding a conserved protein, might play a role in the interactions with host cells. To test this, rv3369 gene was heterologously expressed in a nonpathogenic fast-growing Mycobacterium smegmatis strain. The recombinant strain survives better than the control within macrophages, accompanied by more host cell death and a marked higher secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition experiments showed that the NF-κB and ERK pathways were involved in the Rv3369-triggered IL-1β changes. These results provided evidence for the engagement of Rv3369 in the interaction between mycobacteria and host.