gamma delta T lymphocytes and their V gamma 9 and V delta 2 receptor expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of active tuberculosis patients before and after treatment.
It has been reported that gamma delta T cells are activated by bacterial infection, and the cells act in an antibacterial manner. We investigated the immunologic role of gamma delta T cells and their receptors in tuberculosis (TB) patients. We examined gamma delta T cells which express receptors composed of V gamma 9 or V delta 2 chains before and after anti-TB chemotherapy, in vitro changes in T cell receptor expression due to stimulation, and the relationship between the proliferative capability of gamma delta T cells and the clinical data before treatment (10 TB patients and 9 healthy volunteers). The ratio of V gamma 9-positive cells to gamma delta T cells decreased significantly in the 10 TB patients before treatment (p < 0.05). In the in vitro study, the patients with a high pretreatment growth index of V delta 9-positive cells had a significantly increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.05) and significantly low rates of V gamma 9- and V delta 2-positive gamma delta T cells (p < 0.02). Measurement of the proportion of V gamma 9-positive cells together with their growth index might help to further elucidate the disease process in patients with pulmonary TB.
Saruwatari
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Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan. saru-n@pc4.so-net.ne.jp
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D014373:Tuberculin