Gamma delta T lymphocytes in human tuberculosis.
The manifestations of tuberculous infection reflect the immune response to infection. Most healthy tuberculin reactors develop protective immunity; tuberculous pleuritis reflects a resistant response manifest by mild disease, whereas advanced pulmonary and miliary tuberculosis reflect ineffective immunity. The role of gamma delta T cells was assessed in tuberculous infection by evaluating expansion of these cells from blood mononuclear cells after stimulation with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. After culture in vitro, the percentages of gamma delta+ cells were significantly greater in patients with protective and resistant immunity (tuberculin reactors, 25% +/- 4%; tuberculous pleuritis, 30% +/- 7%) than in those with ineffective immunity (advanced pulmonary tuberculosis, 9% +/- 3%; miliary tuberculosis, 2% +/- 1%). In leprosy, expansion of gamma delta+ cells was greater in immunologically resistant tuberculoid patients (32% +/- 4%) than in Mycobacterium leprae-unresponsive lepromatous patients (9% +/- 2%). M. tuberculosis-reactive gamma delta T cell lines produced interferon-gamma, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-3, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, cytokines that activate macrophages and may contribute to mycobacterial elimination. These findings suggest that gamma delta T cells contribute to immune resistance against M. tuberculosis.
Barnes
P F
PF
Department of Medicine, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles 90033.
Grisso
C L
CL
Abrams
J S
JS
Band
H
H
Rea
T H
TH
Modlin
R L
RL
D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000276:immunology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014391:Tuberculosis, Miliary / Q000276:immunology*; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000276:immunology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines