Mycoplasma contamination affects cell characteristics and decreases the sensitivity of BV2 microglia to LPS stimulation.

Mycoplasma is the most common contaminant and greatly affects host cells. The influence of mycoplasma on microglia cells remains unknown. Here, we investigated the influence of mycoplasma contamination on BV2 cells (a microglia cell line). We found that mycoplasma contamination increased the phosphorylation of NF-kB and MAPK signal pathway and induced the activation of BV2 cells. These mycoplasma-contaminated BV2 cells exhibited a transition of cell morphology and slower proliferation, as well as increased gene expression and protein secretion of inflammatory factors. Furthermore, mycoplasma-contaminated BV2 cells had decreased sensitivity to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. These findings suggested that mycoplasma contamination greatly influenced the characteristics and function of microglia cells. It is important to prevent and exclude mycoplasma contamination in our research.