title: Cytokine secretion in vivo and ex vivo following chemotherapy of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
abstract: The human immune response to tuberculosis is partly mediated by the proinflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-8. We investigated plasma concentrations of these cytokines before and after maximal lipopolysaccharide stimulation ex vivo of whole blood leucocytes from Zambian patients. 32 patients with non-fatal tuberculosis, 25 of whom were seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), were followed for 9 months. Patients were assessed at presentation to hospital (visit A), after 2 months' antimycobacterial therapy (visit B), and when chemotherapy was completed (visit C). Between visits A and B, patients regained weight (P = 0.03) and became less anaemic (P = 0.0001). At visit B, haemoglobin concentration remained lower in HIV seropositive patients (P = 0.001) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), initially elevated in all patients, was higher in HIV seropositive patients (100 +/- 6 mm vs. 43 +/- 11 mm in 1 h in seronegative patients; P = 0.002). Plasma IL-8 concentrations were increased at visit C as was IL-8 secretion ex vivo (P < 0.0001 at all time points). Otherwise plasma cytokine levels and secretion ex vivo remained similar throughout the study. Concurrent HIV infection resulted in persistently decreased IL-6 secretions ex vivo although ESR remained high. In summary, after antibiotic therapy in vivo IL-8 secretion ex vivo increased, which supports other data suggesting that IL-8 has a role in immunity to tuberculosis.
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases and Bacteriology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, UK.
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Friedland
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Hartley
authors: C G
authors: CG
authors: Hartley
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Shattock
authors: G E
authors: GE
authors: Griffin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha