Is a fatty acid transporter, CD36, involved in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection?

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CD36 is an oxidized LDL receptor and a fatty acid transporter expressed in various tissues and cells, including macrophages. Since M.tuberculosis requires fatty acid in its entry into macrophages, intracellular growth, and escape from lysosomes. In the present study, possible role of CD36 in M.tuberculosis infection to human macrophages was examined. Monocyte-derived macrophages from normal and CD36-negative subjects were infected with M.tuberculosis in vitro. The susceptibility to M.tuberculosis infection was not different between normal and CD36-negative subjects. Further, monoclonal anti-CD36 antibody did not show significant suppressive effect on the infection of M.tuberculosis to macrophages. Confocal laser microscopy did not show any significant relation between CD36 and M.tuberculosis. Thus, no definite relation between CD36 and M.tuberculosis infection was observed in this stud. However, the infection appeared to change macrophageal fatty acid composition, and also the expression levels of CD36 and PPARgamma genes. Since he both genes have significant effects on intracellular fatty metabolism and transport, possible indirect role of CD36 in M.tuberculosis infection to macrophages remains to be tested.