title: Antimycobacterial effect of IFNG (interferon gamma)-induced autophagy depends on HMOX1 (heme oxygenase 1)-mediated increase in intracellular calcium levels and modulation of PPP3/calcineurin-TFEB (transcription factor EB) axis. creator: Singh, Nisha creator: Kansal, Pallavi creator: Ahmad, Zeeshan creator: Baid, Navin creator: Kushwaha, Hariom creator: Khatri, Neeraj creator: Kumar, Ashwani subject: QR Microbiology description: IFNG (interferon gamma)-induced autophagy plays an important role in the elimination of intracellular pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). However, the signaling cascade that leads to the increase in autophagy flux in response to IFNG is poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that HMOX1 (heme oxygenase 1)-generated carbon monoxide (CO) is required for the induction of autophagy and killing of Mtb residing in macrophages in response to immunomodulation by IFNG. Interestingly, IFNG exposure of macrophages induces an increase in intracellular calcium levels that is dependent on HMOX1 generated CO. Chelation of intracellular calcium inhibits IFNG-mediated autophagy and mycobacterial clearance from macrophages. Moreover, we show that IFNG-mediated increase in intracellular calcium leads to activation of the phosphatase calcineurin (PPP3), which dephosphorylates the TFEB (transcription factor EB) to induce autophagy. PPP3-mediated activation and nuclear translocation of TFEB are critical in IFNG-mediated mycobacterial trafficking and survival inside the infected macrophages. These findings establish that IFNG utilizes the PPP3-TFEB signaling axis for inducing autophagy and regulating mycobacterial growth. We believe this signaling axis could act as a therapeutic target for suppression of growth of intracellular pathogens. publisher: Taylor & Francis date: 2018-05-10 type: Article type: PeerReviewed relation: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15548627.2018.1436936?journalCode=kaup20 identifier: Singh, Nisha and Kansal, Pallavi and Ahmad, Zeeshan and Baid, Navin and Kushwaha, Hariom and Khatri, Neeraj and Kumar, Ashwani (2018) Antimycobacterial effect of IFNG (interferon gamma)-induced autophagy depends on HMOX1 (heme oxygenase 1)-mediated increase in intracellular calcium levels and modulation of PPP3/calcineurin-TFEB (transcription factor EB) axis. Autophagy, 14 (6). pp. 972-991. ISSN 1554-8635 relation: http://crdd.osdd.net/open/2113/