Mycobacterium smegmatis Induces Neurite Outgrowth and Differentiation in an Autophagy-Independent Manner in PC12 and C17.2 Cells.

Abstract

Both pathogenic and non-pathogenic Mycobacteria can induce the differentiation of immune cells into dendritic cells (DC) or DC-like cells. In addition, pathogenic Mycobacteria is found to stimulate cell differentiation in the nerves system. Whether non-pathogenic Mycobacteria interacts with nerve cells remains unknown. In this study, we found that co-incubation with fast-growing Mycobacteria smegmatis induced neuron-like morphological changes of PC12 and C17.2 cells. Moreover, the M. smegmatis culture supernatant which was ultrafiltrated through a membrane with a 10 kDa cut-off, induced neurite outgrowth and differentiation in an autophagy-independent pathway in PC12 and C17.2 cells. Further analysis showed that IFN-γ production and activation of the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway were involved in the neural differentiation. In conclusion, our finding demonstrated that non-pathogenic M. smegmatis was able to promote neuronal differentiation by its extracellular proteins, which might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

• Authors: Xinwei Feng, Junfeng Lu, Zitian He, Yidan Wang, Fangfang Qi, Rongbiao Pi, Ge Zhang
• Journal: Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology (Front Cell Infect Microbiol) Vol. 8 Pg. 201 ( 2018) ISSN: 2235-2988 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 29988402 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Interferon-gamma
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases

Topics

• Animals
• Autophagy (immunology)
• Cell Differentiation (immunology)
• Cell Line
• Humans
• Interferon-gamma (metabolism)
• Mice
• Mycobacterium smegmatis (immunology)
• Neuronal Outgrowth (immunology)
• Neurons (cytology, immunology, microbiology)
• PC12 Cells
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases (metabolism)
• Rats