Objective To explore the potential for Mycobacterium marinumto infect PC-12 neurons and the immune response to that infection. Methods Neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells was induced with nerve growth factor(NGF)and the cells were then infected with M.marinum.The localization of M.marinum-GFP in relation to a differentiation marker,F-actin,was analyzed using confocal microscopy.Bacterial replication in PC-12 was assessed in colony-forming units(CFUs).Expression of TNF-α,IL-1β,iNOS,and COX-2mRNA and prote...