title: Defective interleukin-2 production and interleukin-2 receptor expression in pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: The evolution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as an intracellular pathogen has led to a complex relationship between it and its host, the human mononuclear phagocyte. The products of M. tuberculosis-specific T lymphocytes are essential for macrophage activation for intracellular mycobacterial killing. However, dysfunction cell-mediated immune response to infection with M. tuberculosis may contribute to progressive primary infection or reactivation of endogenous foci of mycobacteria. Th1 cells produce IL-2, which is essential for proper cellular immunity. The aim of this study was to identify the variation in IL-2 activity and soluble IL-2 receptor (IL-2 R) in peripheral blood lymphocyte in patients suffering with pulmonary tuberculosis. A significant decrease in IL-2 and IL-2 receptor level was observed in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis when compared to normal controls. Our results suggested that patients with pulmonary tuberculosis had a defect in IL-2 production. Better understanding of these interactions will allow the development of increasingly specific immune-based interventions for prevention and treatment of tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, V P Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007.
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2