Essential Role for Cholesterol in Entry of Mycobacteria into Macrophages

• DOI: 10.1126/science.288.5471.1647
• Publication Date: 2002-07-27T09:37:46Z
• Authors: John Gatfield; Jean Pieters
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; Membrane Fluidity; Macrophages; Cell Membrane; Microfilament Proteins; Macrophage-1 Antigen; Proteins; Mycobacterium bovis; Cell Line; 3. Good health; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Cholesterol; Phagocytosis; Cell Movement; Phagosomes; Protein Biosynthesis; Animals

Mycobacteria are intracellular pathogens that can invade and survive within host macrophages, thereby creating a major health problem worldwide. The molecular mechanisms involved in mycobacterial entry still poorly characterized. Here we report cholesterol is essential for uptake of mycobacteria by macrophages. Cholesterol accumulated at the site entry, depleting plasma membrane specifically inhibited uptake. also mediated phagosomal association TACO, coat protein prevents degradation lysosomes. Thus, entering cells cholesterol-rich domains membrane, may ensure their subsequent survival TACO-coated phagosomes.