title: [Immune mechanisms in children with tuberculosis].
abstract: The easiness of pathological process spreading and difficulties with disease confinement are the most characteristic features of tuberculosis in childhood. These are mainly due to immaturity of both respiratory and immune systems. The infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis gives rise to formation of granuloma, a product of macrophage accumulation, which develops due to proliferation of mycobacteria and remains a prominent pathogenic finding in Tbc. A functional equilibrium between the efficacy of cell-mediated immunity (necessary for eradication of the pathogens) and tissue-destructive delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction are observed in Tbc-infected individuals. IL-12 and IFN-gamma, as strong activators of the Th1-driven immune response, are considered as crucial for successful eradication of Mycobacteria. The functional predominance of humoral immune response is a distinctive mark of immune response in childhood and is regarded as the risk factor associated with poor clinical outcome. The determinants have been shown of immune response against Mycobacteria with a special consideration of childhood Tbc.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Pneumonologii, Chorób Alergicznych i Hematologii, Klinika Gastroenterologii i Zywienia Dzieci AM w Warszawie.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banaszkiewicz
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Feleszko
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma