title: Cytokine gene expression profile of circulating CD4+ T cells in active pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: T lymphocytes, particularly CD4+ cells, are thought to play an important role in the immune defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis through the release of their wide array of cytokines. In vitro studies suggest that Mycobacterium-specific T-cell clones are of the TH1 subtype. Using the technique of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we have investigated the capacity for cytokine gene expression profile in ex vivo circulating CD4+ T cells from 20 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis compared with that of 30 normal healthy tuberculin-positive volunteers. Venous blood samples were collected from the former prior to the initiation of chemotherapy. A significant increase in interleukin (IL-2) expression (p < 0.001) and a significant decrease in IL-5 expression (p < 0.0001) were observed in patients with tuberculosis but no differences were seen in the expression of IL-4 and interferon gamma between the two study groups. Our data support a TH1-like immune response in active tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007371:Interferon-gamma