Characterization of Exosomes Released from Mycobacterium abscessus-Infected Macrophages

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), such as exosomes, play a critical role in cell-to-cell communication and regulating cellular processes in recipient cells. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), such as Mycobacterium abscessus, are a group of environmental bacteria that can cause severe lung infections in populations with pre-existing lung conditions, such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is limited knowledge of the engagement of EVs in the host–pathogen interactions in the context of NTM infections. In this study, we found that M. abscessus infection increased the release of a subpopulation of exosomes (CD9, CD63, and/or CD81 positive) by mouse macrophages in cell culture. Proteomic analysis of these vesicles demonstrated that M. abscessus infection affects the enrichment of host proteins in exosomes released by macrophages. When compared to exosomes from uninfected macrophages, exosomes released by M. abscessus-infected macrophages significantly improved M. abscessus growth and downregulated the intracellular level of glutamine in recipient macrophages in cell culture. Increasing glutamine concentration in the medium rescued intracellular glutamine levels and M. abscessus killing in recipient macrophages that were treated with exosomes from M. abscessus-infected macrophages. Taken together, our results indicate that exosomes may serve as extracellular glutamine eliminators that interfere with glutamine-dependent M. abscessus killing in recipient macrophages.