title: Defective interleukin 2 production and responsiveness in human pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: Patients with newly diagnosed, pulmonary tuberculosis had a tuberculin-specific defect in IL-2 production. Mean PPD-induced IL-2 activity was 81.2% lower in patients as compared with healthy tuberculin reactors. PPD-induced expression of T cell IL-2 receptors was 5.9 times less in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with tuberculosis as compared with healthy tuberculin reactors. Furthermore, purified IL-2 failed to correct PPD-induced blastogenesis in patients. Suppression by adherent cells was operative in one group of patients; adherent cell depletion increased their T cell production of IL-2 7.2-fold. A second group of patients with low IL-2 production did not have suppressor adherent cells and were clinically distinct, with more extensive disease on chest x ray. The basis for low IL-2 production in such individuals is unknown. Disordered regulation of IL-2 metabolism may be a key feature in the depressed cellular immune response of tuberculosis.
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013301:Streptolysins / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013301:Streptolysins; D014373:Tuberculin; C025964:streptolysin O