title: CD69 expression on CD4+ T lymphocytes after in vitro stimulation with tuberculin is an indicator of immune sensitization against Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens.
abstract: The expression of the CD69 antigen on CD4 T lymphocytes after in vitro stimulation with purified protein derivative (2 tuberculin units) was used to evaluate the tuberculin reactivities of 52 individuals from four experimental groups: Mycobacterium bovis BCG-vaccinated healthy individuals with a negative tuberculin skin test (TST) result (group A), BCG-vaccinated healthy individuals with a positive TST result (group B), patients with active tuberculosis (TB) before treatment (group C), and individuals with clinically inactive TB who had previously completed a prescribed course of chemotherapy (group D). The expression of CD69 on CD4 T lymphocytes was significantly higher in patients with active TB (16.2%+/-7.3%), individuals with clinically inactive TB (10.5%+/-7.4%), and healthy individuals with a positive TST result (15.5%+/-7.2%) than in healthy individuals with a negative TST result (3.8%+/-4.3%) (P<0.005). We confirmed the correlation between CD69 antigen expression on T lymphocytes after stimulation with tuberculin and the TST induration diameter (Spearman rho=0.783; P<0.001), an assay for gamma interferon (the Quantiferon-TB assay; Spearman rho=0.613; P<0.001), and the lymphocyte BLAST transformation test (Spearman rho=0.537; P<0.001). Our results demonstrate the usefulness of the determination of CD69 on CD4 T lymphocytes after in vitro stimulation with tuberculin as a rapid indicator of immune sensitization against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia. bojana.avgustin@guest.arnes.si
authors.forename: Bojana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Avgustin
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kotnik
authors.forename: Mojca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skoberne
authors.forename: Tadej
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Malovrh
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skralovnik-Stern
authors.forename: Marjeta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tercelj
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D014373:Tuberculin; D000099192:CD69 Antigens; C072681:Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens