Morphometric analysis of Th(1) and Th(2) cytokine expression in human pulmonary tuberculosis.
METHODS
Following infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, host cytokine responses influence disease manifestation. Differences in cytokine expression likely determine whether tuberculosis (TB) progresses, resolves, or becomes latent. In particular, the balance between Th(1) and Th(2) cytokine responses influences the expression of disease in individuals with pulmonary TB.


OBJECTIVE
Since the cytokine microenvironment in pulmonary TB remains suboptimally defined, we utilized quantitative immunohistochemistry to compare the expression of Th(1) cytokines [interferon-gamma (IFNgamma) and interleukin-12 (IL-12)] and Th(2) cytokines [IL-4, IL-10, transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta)] in surgically resected lungs of seven TB patients and four control subjects. We also quantified IFNgamma-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) expression, a CXC chemokine for macrophages and T cells.


RESULTS
Morphometric analyses revealed increased IFNgamma, IL-12, IP-10, and TGFbeta in granulomas and in pneumonitis areas of TB lungs. In contrast, IL-10 and IL-4 expressions were globally reduced in TB lung tissues compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Th(1) cytokines and TGFbeta are increased while Th(2) cytokines are decreased in well-formed pulmonary granulomas of TB patients compared to controls.
Bai
Xiyuan
X
Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
Wilson
Sarah E
SE
Chmura
Kathryn
K
Feldman
Nicole E
NE
Chan
Edward D
ED
D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000032:analysis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000378:metabolism*
C114753:CXCL10 protein, human; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D016207:Cytokines; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma