Genetically diverse Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates manipulate inflammasome activation and IL-1β secretion independently of macrophage metabolic rewiring

The natural diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is gaining relevance in dictating the outcome of tuberculosis (TB). We previously revealed a link between TB severity and M. tuberculosis -driven evasion of the macrophage cytosolic surveillance systems, with isolates from severe TB cases reducing inflammasome activation and interleukin (IL)-1β production by infected cells. IL-1β production and inflammasome activation are commonly associated with the metabolic reprogramming of stimulated macrophages. Thus, we questioned whether the differential modulation of the inflammasome and IL-1β by M. tuberculosis isolates depended on distinct macrophage metabolic reprogramming. Using metabolic inhibitors, mice deficient for key metabolic regulators, and a metabolomics approach, we found that the macrophage metabolic landscape was similar regardless of the infecting M. tuberculosis isolate. Paralleling single-TLR activated macrophages, inhibition of glycolysis during infection impaired IL-1β secretion. However, departing from TLR based models, in M. tuberculosis -infected macrophages IL-1β secretion was independent of macrophage mitochondrial metabolic changes and the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α. Additionally, we found a previously unappreciated impact of host metabolic inhibitors on the pathogen, and show that inhibition of the mycobacteria metabolism dampened both inflammasome activation and IL-1β production. Collectively, our study raises awareness of the potential confounding effect of host metabolic inhibitors acting on the pathogen itself and demonstrates that the modulation of the inflammasome by M. tuberculosis may be uncoupled from the host metabolic reprogramming.