Fig. 2.

M.tb plays an important role in carcinogenesis in the lungs resulting from generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the macrophage and alveolar epithelial cell. ROS can damage DNA and induce DNA mutation, that initiate tissue remodeling and pulmonary fibrosis, which promotes lung cancer. ROS also upregulate oncogenes jun and fos, which are involved in cell cycle progression through inhibition of P21, that promote cell division and inhibit apoptosis. In mitochondria, mtROS damages mtDNA and induce AEC apoptosis through interrupting respiratory chain and mitochondrial function, which leads to pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer