*Review* **Intelligent Mechanisms of Macrophage Apoptosis Subversion by** *Mycobacterium*

**Abualgasim Elgaili Abdalla 1,2,\*, Hasan Ejaz 1, Mahjoob Osman Mahjoob 2, Ayman Ali Mohammed Alameen 1,3, Khalid Omer Abdalla Abosalif 1,2, Mohammed Yagoub Mohammed Elamir 1,2 and Mohammed Alsadig Mousa 2**


Received: 25 February 2020; Accepted: 15 March 2020; Published: 16 March 2020

**Abstract:** Macrophages are one of the first innate defense barriers and play an indispensable role in communication between innate and adaptive immune responses, leading to restricted *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* (*Mtb*) infection. The macrophages can undergo programmed cell death (apoptosis), which is a crucial step to limit the intracellular growth of bacilli by liberating them into extracellular milieu in the form of apoptotic bodies. These bodies can be taken up by the macrophages for the further degradation of bacilli or by the dendritic cells, thereby leading to the activation of T lymphocytes. However, *Mtb* has the ability to interplay with complex signaling networks to subvert macrophage apoptosis. Here, we describe the intelligent strategies of *Mtb* inhibition of macrophages apoptosis. This review provides a platform for the future study of unrevealed *Mtb* anti-apoptotic mechanisms and the design of therapeutic interventions.

**Keywords:** Mycobacterium; macrophage; apoptosis; effector; cytokine; microRNA
