The Study of Th1/Th2 Cytokine Profiles (IL-10, IL-12, IL-4, and IFNγ) in PBMCs of Patients with Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis and Newly Diagnosed Drug Responsive Cases

Authors

1 Department of Immunology, Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services,

2 Department of Infectious Disease, NRTILD, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, TEHRAN-IRAN

Abstract

Background: Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which is a worldwide clinical problem, is associated with high morbidity and mortality, as well as long-term survival of infected immunocompetent patients. In this study, the PPD-induced production of IL-12, IL-10, IFNγ, and IL-4 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with MDR-TB were investigated and compared with cytokine production capabilities in newly diagnosed, treated cases. Materials and Methods: This study investigated the profiles of IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-10, and IL-4 in response to a purified protein derivative (PPD) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 15 HIV negative patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), 11 newly diagnosed, treated cases and compared those with 10 healthy negative tuberculin reactors as controls. Results: ELISA results showed that the following stimulation with PPD, IFNγ production was significantly increased, whereas IL-10 was significantly reduced in MDR-TB patients compared with PPD negative controls. Production of IL-12 in MDR-TB patients showed elevation, induced by PPD stimulation of their PBMCs. However, MDR-TB patients were similar to healthy negative tuberculin controls in their IL-12 production and there was no statistically significant difference between them. IL-4 was detected to be in very low levels in three groups. Conclusion: In this study MDR-TB patients have no dysregulation in IL-12 or IL-10 production during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and profiles are prone to Th1 cytokines. (Tanaffos 2004; 3(10): 25-31)

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