Abstract: Objective: To investigate the reprogramming of macrophage glycolysis by Macobacterium marinum (M. marinum) by measuring the expression of glycolysis-relared genes and the changes of the concentration of lactic acid after M. marinum infection. Methods: The expression of glycolysis-related genes（SLC2A1, HK2, LDHA）were measured by Real-time quantitative PCR in M. marinum infected macrophage under the different conditions, and the concentration of lactic acid, the final product of glycolysis, was also detected. The uptake of glucose and the fluorescence intensity of M. marinum under the different conditions were measured by flow cytometry and/or confocal microscopy. Results: M. marinum infection increased glucose uptake by macrophage, and promoted the expression of glycolysis-related genes (SLC2A1, HK2, LDHA) and lactic acid production in a multiplicity of infection and time denpendent way. Compared to the heat-killed M. marinum, live M. marinum inhibited the expression of glycolysis-related genes (SLC2A1, HK2, LDHA) and the production of lactic acid. In addition, 2-deoxyglucose, the inhibitor of glycolytic enzyme HK2, promoted the survival of intracellular M. marinum. Conclusion: Reprogramming of glycolysis is one of the immune defense mechanisms of macrophage against M. marinum and M. marinum can promote their survival in macrophage by regulating macrophage glycolysis. Thus, regulation of macrophage glycolysis may be a potential intervention to control M. marinum infection.

Key words: M. marinum infection, macrophage, glycolysis