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Analysis of 18FDG PET/CT Imaging as a Tool for Studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection and Treatment in Non-human Primates
Published on: September 5, 2017
Is adipose tissue a place for Mycobacterium tuberculosis persistence?
Olivier Neyrolles1, Rogelio Hernández-Pando, France Pietri-Rouxel
1Genetics and Biochemistry of Microorganisms, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Paris, France. neyrolle@pasteur.fr
Plos One
|December 22, 2006
Summary
Mycobacterium tuberculosis can hide in body fat, forming a reservoir for long-term infection. This dormant state helps the bacteria evade immune responses and drug treatments for tuberculosis (TB).
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which can persist in hosts for years.
- The location of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli is largely unknown.
- Extra-pulmonary TB suggests bacilli may reside outside the lungs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate adipose tissue as a potential reservoir for Mycobacterium tuberculosis persistence.
- To understand how Mycobacterium tuberculosis survives in a non-replicating state within host tissues.
Main Methods:
- Applied in situ and conventional PCR to adipose tissue samples from deceased individuals and active TB patients.
- Utilized in vitro adipose cell models (3T3-L1 and primary human adipocytes).
- Investigated Mycobacterium tuberculosis entry into adipocytes via scavenger receptors.
Main Results:
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA detected in adipose tissue from kidneys, stomach, lymph nodes, heart, and skin in both Mexican and French cohorts.
- Mycobacteria immuno-detected in perinodal adipose tissue of an active TB patient.
- In vitro, Mycobacterium tuberculosis entered adipocytes, accumulated lipids, and survived non-replicating and isoniazid-insensitive.
Conclusions:
- Adipose tissue may serve as a widespread reservoir for Mycobacterium tuberculosis persistence.
- This reservoir allows bacilli to evade antimicrobials and host immune detection.
- Infected adipocytes offer a novel model for studying bacterial dormancy and developing new anti-TB drugs.
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