Could a Common Steroid Help Immune Cells Kill TB Bacteria? Study Sheds Light

To investigate, Scientists treated and infected macrophages, immune cells derived from healthy blood donors and lung fluid with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacteria responsible for TB. (4) They then examined how dexamethasone affected the cells. The results revealed that

Dexamethasone reduces glycolysis in macrophages, decreasing cellular energy use, and dampens the production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, TNF, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10. While these cytokines aid immunity, reducing them can prevent tissue damage from excessive inflammation.

Crucially, the study found that dexamethasone-treated, Mtb-infected macrophages survived better (5) and had a lower bacterial burden. The

Steroid’s effect appeared to be linked to enhanced autophagy and phagosomal acidification, mechanisms that help cells degrade and clear bacteria

The research suggests that steroids, when used alongside antibiotics, could speed recovery in TB patients and potentially prevent progression from latent to active disease.

Reference: Lorraine Thong et al, Dexamethasone inhibits Mycobacterium tuberculosis-induced glycolysis but preserves antimicrobial function in primary human macrophages, Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-20188-2