Open AccessAlpha/Beta Interferon Impairs the Ability of Human Macrophages To Control Growth ofMycobacterium bovisBCG
Author(s) -
Francine Bouchonnet,
Neio Boéchat,
Marcel Bonay,
Allan J. Hance
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
infection and immunity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.508
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1070-6313
pISSN - 0019-9567
DOI - 10.1128/iai.70.6.3020-3025.2002
Subject(s) - biology , mycobacterium bovis , microbiology and biotechnology , interferon gamma , in vitro , mycobacterium tuberculosis , macrophage , interferon , secretion , cell culture , cytokine , immunology , tuberculosis , biochemistry , medicine , genetics , pathology
Administration of alpha/beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) to mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been shown to increase mycobacterial growth. Because IFN-alpha/beta has direct pleiotropic effects on the differentiation and functional activities of macrophages, we evaluated the effect of IFN-alpha/beta on mycobacterial growth in human monocytes/macrophages in vitro. Monocytes cultured at optimal cell density could control the growth of M. bovis BCG, as assessed both by measurement of luciferase activity expressed by a mycobacterial reporter strain and by counting of CFU. In contrast, unrestrained mycobacterial growth was observed when monocytes were treated with alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) 3 days prior to or concomitant with infection. This striking loss of mycobacteriostatic activity was observed with IFN-alpha and IFN-beta and was induced in both freshly isolated monocytes and culture-derived macrophages. Pretreatment of monocytes with IFN-alpha modified cellular morphology and reduced viability following culture, but neither was observed for culture-derived macrophages, indicating that the effects of IFN-alpha on mycobacteriostatic activity and cell differentiation and death could be dissociated. These results are compatible with the possibility that the secretion of IFN-alpha/beta could directly promote mycobacterial growth in patients harboring these organisms.