The macrophage in tuberculosis: sinner or saint? The T cell decides.
Immunity to intracellular bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis crucially depends on intricate interactions between T lymphocytes and macrophages. Before contact with T lymphocytes macrophages serve as habitat for M. tuberculosis organisms; after activation by T cells they become major effectors against these pathogens. T cells comprise different subsets which express different functional activities. This paper describes evidence that different T cell subsets (CD4 alpha/beta T cells, CD8 alpha/beta T cells and gamma/delta T cells) as well as different T cell functions (interleukin secretion and target cell lysis) contribute to immunity against tuberculosis.
Kaufmann
S H
SH
Department of Immunology, University of Ulm, FRG.
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology; D007918:Leprosy / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*
D007378:Interleukins; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell