PPE2 protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis may inhibit nitric oxide in activated macrophages

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2013 Apr:1283:97-101. doi: 10.1111/nyas.12070. Epub 2013 Feb 28.

Abstract

Although the pathophysiological role of PE/PPE proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is yet to be fully understood, recent evidence shows that these proteins play important roles in antigenic diversity, as well as in host-pathogen interactions and mycobacterial pathogenesis. Most of the PE/PPE proteins are highly expressed in pathogenic bacteria, pointing to their role in the pathogenesis of mycobacteria. Here, we provide an overview of our work in progress on a specific PPE protein, PPE2 (Rv0256c), which may inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in activated macrophages. As NO and its by-products are considered to be toxic to bacilli, it is possible that the bacilli recruit Rv0256c in order to inhibit higher production of NO during infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
  • Antigens, Bacterial / physiology
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / genetics
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions / immunology
  • Macrophage Activation* / genetics
  • Macrophage Activation* / immunology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / microbiology*
  • Mice
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / pathogenicity*
  • Nitric Oxide / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis
  • Tuberculosis / etiology
  • Tuberculosis / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis / pathology

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • PPE2 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Nitric Oxide