title: HLA-DR2 phenotype and plasma lysozyme, beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase levels in pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: METHODS
  Tuberculosis Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Madras, India.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate the role of HLA-Class II genes/gene products on phagocyte enzymes such as lysozyme, beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase in the plasma of pulmonary tuberculosis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serological determination of HLA-DR and -DQ antigens was carried out in 54 active and 84 inactive pulmonary tuberculosis (quiescent) patients and 36 healthy control subjects. The levels of lysozyme, beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase were measured in the plasma of tuberculosis patients and control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased lysozyme levels were observed in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients. beta-glucuronidase activity was higher in inactive-TB than in active-TB patients and control subjects. HLA-DR2 positive patients showed a lower lysozyme level than -DR2 negative patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increase in the plasma lysozyme level in active TB reveals the active stage of the disease. Further, increase in the activity of beta-glucuronidase in inactive-TB patients reveals the quiescent stage of the disease. The low level of lysozyme in HLA-DR2 positive patients may also be one of the possible factors involved in susceptibility to tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Tuberculosis Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Madras, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Selvaraj
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kannapiran
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Reetha
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uma
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xavier
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Narayanan
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000097:blood*; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009113:Muramidase / Q000097:blood*; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D009113:Muramidase; D005966:Glucuronidase