title: Reduced natural killer cell activity in multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: Cellular immune status in five patients with multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis was investigated and compared with five matched controls with non-resistant tuberculosis. A significant reduction in fresh natural killer (NK)-cell activity was found in the resistant group (P less than 0.005). There were no significant differences between the two groups in lymphocyte phenotype, proliferation or PPD-specific cytotoxicity. Reduced NK-cell function may play a role in the pathogenesis of multi-drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town Medical School, South Africa.
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Ratcliffe
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: P T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Lukey
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ress
mesh_terms: D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*