Macrophage Signaling Pathways in Pulmonary Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections.

The incidence and prevalence of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) is rising worldwide and accounts for most clinical cases of NTM. NTM infections occur in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. Macrophages are the primary host cells that initiate an immune response to NTM. Defining the molecular events that govern the control of infection within macrophages is fundamental to understanding the pathogenesis of NTM disease. Here, we review key macrophage host signaling pathways that contribute to the host immune response to pulmonary NTM infections. In this review, we focus primarily on NTM that are known to cause lung disease, including M. avium intracellulare, M. abscessus, and M. kansasii.