Abstract
Immunity to M.tuberculosis (MTB) infection consists of interactions between various T-cell subsets that control the infection and prevent further reactivation. We analysed the effector/memory T-cell dynamics and cytokines production in the peripheral blood of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). We observed that the frequency of CD4+ T-cell effectors was significantly increased during active TB, confirming a major role of this T-cell subset in TB immunity. Pre-terminally differentiated CD8+ T-lymphocytes were increased in the peripheral blood as well. In contrast, we observed a reduced number of effector mycobacteria-reactive γδ + T-lymphocytes with a specific defects in reacting to mycobacterial nonpeptidic antigens, suggesting that this innate response is rapidly lost during TB infection. Nevertheless, the frequency of γδ+ T-cells effectors in TB patients was higher than the αβ+ T-cell response to peptide from MTB-ESAT-6 protein and quantitatively similar to PPD reactivity. Thus, αβ+ and γδ+ T-cell differentiation and function are differently triggered by active TB infection.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 247-252 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 3 |
Publication status | Published - Sep 2003 |
Keywords
- IFN-γ
- M.tuberculosis
- Mycobacterial antigens
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pharmacology