Mycobacterium intracellulare induces a Th17 immune response via M1-like macrophage polarization in canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) is one of the most prevalent pathogenic nontuberculous mycobacteria that cause chronic pulmonary disease. The prevalence of MAC infection has been rising globally in a wide range of hosts, including companion animals. MAC infection has been reported in dogs; however, little is known about interaction between MAC and dogs, especially in immune response. In this study, we investigated the host immune response driven by M. intracellulare using the co-culture system of canine T helper cells and autologous monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that canine MDMs differentiated into M1-like macrophages after M. intracellulare infection and the macrophages secreted molecules that induced Th1/Th17 cell polarization. Furthermore, canine lymphocytes co-cultured with M. intracellulare-infected macrophages induced the adaptive Th17 responses after 5 days. Taken together, our results indicate that M. intracellulare elicits a Th17 response through macrophage activation in this system. Those findings might help the understanding of the canine immune response to MAC infection and diminishing the potential zoonotic risk in One Health aspect.