title: Circulating TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, and IL-10 in tuberculosis patients and healthy contacts.
abstract: Levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, and interleukin (IL)-10 in plasma of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and healthy contacts and plasma and pleural fluid of patients with tuberculous pleuritis were examined by enzyme immunoassay. Plasma TNF-alpha and IL-10 were elevated to significant levels in healthy contacts. High levels of TGF-beta and IL-10 were also detected in plasma from TB patients and healthy contacts. Pleural fluid contained all three cytokines with the level of IL-10 being highest followed by TGF-beta and TNF-alpha. Plasma of tuberculous pleuritis patients also had detectable levels of the three cytokines. Increased levels of TNF-alpha in plasma of contacts and to some extent pleural fluid of pleuritis patients, is perhaps to limit the infection, while elevated IL-10 in plasma of TB patients and contacts and pleural fluid would perhaps modulate excess proinflammation. Elevated TGF-beta in TB patients suggests its role in the immunopathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Armauer Hansen Research Institute, PO Box 1005, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ugapost@afsat.com
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Olobo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geletu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demissie
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eguale
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiwot
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aderaye
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Britton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000737:chemistry; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10