Mycoplasma pneumoniae MPN606 induces inflammation by activating MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways

Ru Zhang; Yingying Zuo; Shuihong Li

doi:10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107288

Mycoplasma pneumoniae MPN606 induces inflammation by activating MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways

Microb Pathog. 2025 Jan 11:107288. doi: 10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107288. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ru Zhang¹, Yingying Zuo¹, Shuihong Li²

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, China.
² Institute of Pathogenic Biology, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, China. Electronic address: zhoubaoxi520@163.com.

PMID: 39805346
DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107288

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is one of the major pathogens causing community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), and its pathogenic mechanism is not fully understood. Inflammatory response is the most basic and common pathological phenomenon of CAP, but the specific mechanism needs further investigation. In this study, the inflammatory action of M. pneumoniae MPN606 protein was confirmed and its molecular mechanism was tentatively investigated. Compared with the control group treated with PBS, stimulation of RAW264.7 cells with rMPN606 can promote the release of NO, increase the expression level of TNF-α and IL⁃6 cytokines, and up-regulate the mRNA transcription levels of iNOS, IL-6 and TNF-α in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, rMPN606 also significantly induced the expression of iNOS protein in RAW264.7 cells, resulting in increased phosphorylation levels of p65, p38 and ERK proteins. The results of cellular immunofluorescence showed that NF-κB was transferred from cytoplasm to nucleus of RAW264.7 cells after stimulation with rMPN606, and nuclear translocation of NF-κB was significantly enhanced. These results indicate that Mycoplasma pneumoniae MPN606 induces M1-type activation of macrophages and secretes pro-inflammatory factors by activating NF-κB and MAPK pathways.

Keywords: M. pneumoniae; MAPK; NF-κB; RAW264.7; rMPN606.