TitleBioenergetic reprogramming of macrophages reduces drug tolerance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2025
AuthorsYadav V, Sahoo S, Malhotra N, Mishra R, Sreedharan S, Rajmani RS, Shanmugam S, Shandil RK, Narayanan S, Thacker VV, Laxman S, Jolly MKumar, Seshasayee ASai Narain, Singh A
JournalNat Commun
Volume16
Issue1
Pagination9370
Date Published2025 Oct 23
ISSN2041-1723
KeywordsAnimals, Antitubercular Agents, Drug Tolerance, Energy Metabolism, Female, Glycolysis, Humans, Macrophages, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mitochondria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, NF-E2-Related Factor 2, Oxidation-Reduction, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Oxidative Stress, Reactive Oxygen Species, Tuberculosis
Abstract

Effective clearance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) requires targeting drug-tolerant populations within host macrophages. Here, we show that macrophage metabolic states govern redox heterogeneity and drug response in intracellular Mtb. Using a redox-sensitive fluorescent reporter (Mrx1-roGFP2), flow cytometry, and transcriptomics, we found that macrophages with high oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and low glycolysis harbor reductive, drug-tolerant Mtb, whereas glycolytically active macrophages generate mitochondrial ROS via reverse electron transport, imposing oxidative stress on Mtb and enhancing drug efficacy. Computational and genetic analyses identified NRF2 as a key regulator linking host metabolism to bacterial redox state and drug tolerance. Pharmacological reprogramming of macrophages with the FDA-approved drug meclizine (MEC) shifted metabolism towards glycolysis, suppressed redox heterogeneity, and reduced Mtb drug tolerance in macrophages and mice. MEC exhibited no adverse interactions with frontline anti-TB drugs. These findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of host metabolic reprogramming to overcome Mtb drug tolerance.

DOI10.1038/s41467-025-64407-w
Alternate JournalNat Commun
PubMed ID41130947
PubMed Central IDPMC12549822