Macrophage apoptosis in host immunity to mycobacterial infections

Abstract

Macrophage apoptosis occurs within the granuloma, which is essential for successful immunity to tuberculosis. In vitro macrophage apoptosis is associated with the killing of intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A greater understanding of these observations will lead to new immunotherapies and improved vaccine design. The relevant apoptotic stimuli, the anti-mycobacterial mechanisms that they stimulate and their physiological relevance are reviewed in this paper.