Identification of N-formylated Peptides with Neutrophilic Chemotactic Activity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Neutrophil infiltration of the lungs is associated with granuloma formation and severity tuberculosis infection. Although several cytokines chemokines are known to contribute lung neutrophil infiltration, neutrophilic chemotactic factors Mycobacterium ( Mtb ) remain unexplored. Therefore, we performed Transwell based assays using neutrophils from human peripheral blood mouse bone marrow probe activity culture filtrates (CF) H37Rv. CF H37Rv induced chemotaxis both neutrophils, this was also confirmed 9 clinical isolates Erdman strain activity. Sulfasalazine, an N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLF) receptor inhibitor, blocked by , thus indicating involvement fMLF in neutrophils. Mass spectrometry analysis identified three candidate N-formylated heptapeptides. The peptides their synthetic mimetics that they a manner dependent on N-terminal formylation. For all formylated Mtb, Ca 2+ influx suppressed sulfasalazine. Thus, novel