title: Limiting dilution analysis of T cell unresponsiveness to mycobacteria in advanced disseminated tuberculosis.
abstract: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with advanced disseminated tuberculosis (Dis-TB) do not respond to purified protein derivative (PPD) measured as cell proliferation, lymphokine production and interleukin (IL)-2 receptor (Tac antigen) expression. Limiting dilution analysis revealed "multi-hit" curves and low frequencies of PPD-reactive T cells in cultures of Dis-TB, and "single-hit" curves and high frequencies of PPD-reactive T cells in cultures of patients with localized form of pulmonary tuberculosis. Moreover, a strict relationship between Tac antigen expression and ability of exogenous IL-2 to enhance bulk culture cell proliferation was observed in Dis-TB patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gilardini Montani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Del Gallo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Porto
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piccolella
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arienzo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colizzi
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014373:Tuberculin; D007371:Interferon-gamma