EV-mediated Monocytes Reprogramming in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

We report that PMBCs cultured with MΦEVMtb exhibit a marked classical to intermediate monocyte polarization effect, as detected by single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry results. Moreover, this effect appears to correspond with the activation of the alternative NF-κB pathway, and can be partially recapitulated by treating PBMCs with EV derived from recombinant cell line that overexpresses TRAF1, a direct regulator of this pathway.

Collectively, we depict an EV-mediated monocyte reprogram landscape in the context of Mtb infection and highlight a potential link between EV and pathogenesis of tuberculosis.