부산대학교 도서관

T lymphocytes, particularly [CD4.sup.+] cells, are thought to play an important role in the immune defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis through the release of their wide array of cytokines. In vitro studies suggest that Mycobacterium-specific T-cell clones are of the [TH.sub.1] subtype. Using the technique of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we have investigated the capacity for cytokine gene expression profile in ex vivo circulating [CD4.sup.+] T cells from 20 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis compared with that of 30 normal healthy tuberculin-positive volunteers. Venous blood samples were collected from the former prior to the initiation of chemotherapy. A significant increase in interleukin (IL-2) expression (p [is less than] 0.001) and a significant decrease in IL-5 expression (p [is less than] 0.0001) were observed in patients with tuberculosis but no differences were seen in the expression of IL-4 and interferon gamma between the two study groups. Our data support a [TH.sub.1]-like immune response in active tuberculosis. (CHEST 1997;111:606-11) Key words: cytokines; helper T cells; interleukin 2; T lymphocytes; tuberculosis Abbreviations: cDNA = complementary DNA; GM-CSF = granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor IFN = interferon; IL = interleukin; mRNA = messenger RNA; PBMC = peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PCR = polymerase chain reaction
The clinical manifestations of tuberculosis are dependent on the cellular immune responses to the tubercle bacilli, characterized by the accumulation of monocytes/macrophages, lymphocytes, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in tuberculous lesions.[1-3] These [...]