Sp110-KO Mouse

SP110, also known as Speckled 110, is an interferon-responsive nuclear body protein. It has critical roles in cell cycling, apoptosis, and immunity to infection. It may function as a nuclear hormone receptor transcriptional coactivator and is expressed in human peripheral blood leukocytes and spleen [8].

Regarding tuberculosis (TB), studies on SP110 gene polymorphisms have shown inconsistent results. Some meta-analyses found no significant association between certain polymorphisms (rs1135791, rs9061, rs11556887, rs3948464, rs1346311) and TB susceptibility, while others indicated that SNP rs9061 might be a risk factor for TB. In the Vietnamese population, certain SP110 variants were associated with both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB. In a Mongolian population, the rs722555 SNP in SP110 was associated with an increased risk of TB. In Taiwanese populations, several SNPs in SP110 were associated with susceptibility to latent and active TB infection [1,4,3,5,7]. In macrophages, depletion of SP110 and/or SP140 impaired the induction of gene expression associated with inflammatory responses, including IFN response genes during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, suggesting that SP110 acts as a positive regulator for these genes [2]. In mouse macrophages, Sp110 interacts with heat shock protein 5 (Hspa5) to activate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced apoptosis, enhancing macrophage resistance to Mycobacterium tuberculosis [6].

In conclusion, SP110 is crucial in immunity-related processes, especially in the context of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Studies on SP110 gene polymorphisms and functional studies in macrophages and mouse models have provided insights into its role in TB susceptibility and the associated immune responses. These findings contribute to understanding the host-pathogen interactions and may potentially guide the development of strategies related to TB prevention and treatment.