Specific cytokine patterns of pulmonary tuberculosis in Central Africa

Clin Immunol. 2011 Jan;138(1):50-9. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2010.09.005. Epub 2010 Oct 15.

Abstract

Different cytokines have been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The frequencies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, CD4(+)CD25(+) Forkhead Box Protein (FoxP)3(+) T cells, interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-10 were assessed in HIV-negative, pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients (n=30) and in healthy controls (n=23) in Gabon. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were stimulated with purified protein derivative (PPD) and early secretory antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6). In patients, a pronounced pro-inflammatory cytokine response with highly significant increased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α accompanied by increased TGF-β was detectable. Differences in IFN-γ responses between patients and healthy individuals were less pronounced than expected. FoxP3 expression did not differ between groups. A distinct cytokine pattern is associated with active pulmonary TB in patients from Central Africa.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Antigens, Bacterial / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Proteins / immunology
  • Bacterial Proteins / pharmacology
  • Body Temperature
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Cell Count
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Gabon
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / blood
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / blood
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-2 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / immunology
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / cytology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / drug effects
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / blood
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Tuberculin / immunology
  • Tuberculin / pharmacology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / blood
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / immunology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cytokines
  • ESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • FOXP3 protein, human
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Hemoglobins
  • IL10 protein, human
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-2
  • Interleukin-6
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Tuberculin
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interferon-gamma