Lymphocyte subpopulations in active tuberculosis: association with disease severity and the QFT-GIT assay [Short communication].

Cell-mediated immune response plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis (TB). We retrospectively evaluated lymphocyte subpopulations in 177 active TB patients compared to 93 healthy controls, finding a relevant decrease in total lymphocytes and CD8+ cells. Conversely, activated human leukocyte antigen (HLA-DR+) and CD4+CD57+ cells were higher in the TB group. B-1a (CD5+CD19+) lymphocytes were reduced in TB subjects, particularly those with extended and cavitary pulmonary forms, suggesting increased compartmentalisation at the infection site. QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube positive results were associated with higher HLA-DR+CD4+ and CD4+CD57+ cells, while interferon-gamma response and total lymphocyte levels were lower in advanced pulmonary TB cases.

[1]  Xiaoying Fu,et al.  B lymphocytes that migrate to tuberculous pleural fluid via the SDF‐1/CXCR4 axis actively respond to antigens specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis , 2011, European journal of immunology.

[2]  R. Raffaelli,et al.  Lymphocyte phenotypic subsets in umbilical cord blood compared to peripheral blood from related mothers , 2011, Cytometry. Part B, Clinical cytometry.

[3]  M. Mariano,et al.  B-1 cell protective role in murine primary Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guerin infection. , 2010, Immunobiology.

[4]  Venkatesan Perumal,et al.  Role of QuantiFERON-TB Gold, Interferon Gamma Inducible Protein-10 and Tuberculin Skin Test in Active Tuberculosis Diagnosis , 2010, PloS one.

[5]  Ye Wu,et al.  Changes in Lymphocyte Subsets in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis , 2009, The Journal of international medical research.

[6]  F. Drobniewski,et al.  Interferon-γ release assays for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis: sensible or silly? , 2009, European Respiratory Journal.

[7]  E. Zenteno,et al.  Characterization of a cytotoxic CD57+ T cell subset from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. , 2006, Clinical immunology.

[8]  D Barnett,et al.  Cytofluorometric methods for assessing absolute numbers of cell subsets in blood. European Working Group on Clinical Cell Analysis. , 2000, Cytometry.

[9]  R. Modlin,et al.  T cell mediated immunity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. , 1999, Current opinion in microbiology.

[10]  J. Caylà,et al.  B-lymphocytes and co-stimulatory molecules in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. , 2004, The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.