Human epigenetic alterations in Mycobacterium
tuberculosis infection: a novel platform to eavesdrop interactions between M tuberculosis
and host immunity
M Ip, L Zheng, ETY Leung, N Lee, G Lui, KF To, R Choy, K Wong, EWC Chan, RCY Chan
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Key Messages
1. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection
altered the methylation levels of inflammatory
genes in human macrophages.
2. The induced methylations of the host genes were strain- and host-dependent.
3. The methylation profile of active MTB disease, latent MTB infection, and healthy control groups were distinct. These signatures may potentially be further evaluated as biomarkers in the diagnosis of MTB infection in a clinical setting.
4. The study offers new insights into epigenetic changes in modulating the immune response in MTB infections.
2. The induced methylations of the host genes were strain- and host-dependent.
3. The methylation profile of active MTB disease, latent MTB infection, and healthy control groups were distinct. These signatures may potentially be further evaluated as biomarkers in the diagnosis of MTB infection in a clinical setting.
4. The study offers new insights into epigenetic changes in modulating the immune response in MTB infections.