Mycobacterium tuberculosis Acr1 Protein Mitigates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Symptoms by Generating Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Regulatory T Cells

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) effectively suppresses host immunity to ensure its survival. We have earlier shown that the Acr1 protein of Mtb can inhibit the differentiation of dendritic cells (DCs). Consequently, in the current study, we examined the role of Acr1 in mitigating autoimmunity. Initially, we observed that Acr1 skews the differentiation of DCs into functionally competent myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC Acr1 ) that chiefly secrete immunosuppressive molecules, expand regulatory T cells (Treg Acr1 ) and attenuate inflammatory responses. Further, MDSC Acr1 suppress Th17 cells. Acr1 expanded MDSCs with a concurrent increase in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-specific Tregs and a decline in Th17 cells in a murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model and prevented the onset of the disease. These results were further validated in the prophylactic model of EAE. Mechanistically, Acr1 activates Tregs and MDSCs via the TLR-4 pathway, implicating innate immune recognition in Mtb-induced suppression. The results indicate a potential role of Acr1 against autoimmune diseases.