@article{99338,
  keywords = {Adiponectin, CCL2, leprosy, MCP-1, Subcutaneous adipose tissue},
  author = {Reis S and Gonçalves J and Lima K and Demaria T and Costa-Bartuli E and Gomes T and Corrêa M and Atella G and Sola-Penna M and Rosa P and Pessolani M and Nagajyothi J and Lara F},
  title = {Mycobacterium leprae is able to infect adipocytes, inducing lipolysis and modulating the immune response.},
  abstract = {<p>Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the intracellular bacillus Mycobacterium leprae (M.&nbsp;leprae), which is known to infect skin macrophages and Schwann cells. Although adipose tissue is a recognized site of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, its role in the histopathology of leprosy was, until now, unknown. We analyzed the M.&nbsp;leprae capacity to infect and persist inside adipocytes, characterizing the induction of a lipolytic phenotype in adipocytes, as well as the effect of these infected cells on macrophage recruitment. We evaluated 3T3-L1-derived adipocytes, inguinal adipose tissue of SWR/J mice, and subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies of leprosy patients. M.&nbsp;leprae was able to infect 3T3-L1-derived adipocytes in&nbsp;vitro, presenting a strong lipolytic profile after infection, followed by significant cholesterol efflux. This lipolytic phenotype was replicated in&nbsp;vivo by M.&nbsp;leprae injection into mice inguinal adipose tissue. Furthermore, M.&nbsp;leprae was detected inside crown-like structures in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of multibacillary patients. These data indicate that subcutaneous adipose tissue could be an important site of infection, and probably persistence, for M.&nbsp;leprae, being involved in the modulation of the innate immune control in leprosy via the release of cholesterol, MCP-1, and adiponectin.</p>
},
  year = {2023},
  journal = {Microbes and infection},
  month = {12/2023},
  issn = {1769-714X},
  doi = {10.1016/j.micinf.2023.105283},
  language = {eng},
}