Hsa_circ_0001204 modulates inflammatory response of macrophages infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis via TLR4/NF‐κB signalling pathway

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a vital role in the regulation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) by macrophages. In this project, the potential role of hsa_circ_0001204 in M.tb‐infected macrophages is explored. Hsa_circ_0001204 was determined in the patients with tuberculosis (TB) and M.tb‐infected macrophages. Its effect on the survival of M.tb and the apoptosis and inflammation of M.tb‐infected macrophages was evaluated. Toll‐like receptor 4/nuclear factor‐κB (TLR4/NF‐κB) signalling was detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence. TB patients and M.tb‐infected THP‐1 cells showed the significant downregulation of hsa_circ_0001204. Upregulating hsa_circ_0001204 reduced M.tb survival and suppressed the apoptosis and inflammatory response of THP‐1 cells. The TLR4/NF‐κB signalling pathway could be inhibited by hsa_circ_0001204 overexpression, which was activated by M.tb‐infection. Hsa_circ_0001204 confers protective effects in M.tb‐infected THP‐1 cells, at least partly via the inhibition of TLR4/NF‐κB signalling pathway.