Comparison of interferon-gamma response between tuberculosis and non-tubercular pneumonia.
OBJECTIVE
Macrophages aided by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) are vital to controlling Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection. Although numerous studies have compared IFN-gamma response between tubercular patients and healthy controls, no studies have investigated IFN-gamma response in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and non-tubercular pneumonia. The aim of this work was to examine the difference in IFN-gamma response between patients with tuberculosis and non-tubercular pneumonia.


METHODS
IFN-gamma production was detected based on the difference in supernatants between non-stimulated and stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells by phytohemagglutinin in 83 tubercular patients and 47 patients with pneumonia. Presence of a cavity on chest radiography and co-morbidities of pneumoconiosis, bronchiectasis, liver cirrhosis, renal failure on hemodialysis, diabetes mellitus (DM) and lung cancer were recorded for analysis.


RESULTS
Interferon-gamma response, DM and a cavity on chest radiography were independent factors for predicting active pulmonary tuberculosis. Interferon-gamma response was decreased in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis compared with that in patients with non-tubercular pneumonia. Notably, M. tuberculosis infection was the principal factor correlated with IFN-gamma response.


CONCLUSIONS
The IFN-gamma response was principally affected by M. tuberculosis infection and not by other co-morbidities. Further study is required to identify the mechanism of decreased IFN-gamma production.
Wu
H-P
HP
Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan, No. 222, Maijin Road, Anle Chiu, Keelung 204, Taiwan, ROC. yhanpyng@cgmh.org.tw
Hua
C-C
CC
Liu
Y-C
YC
Chuang
D-Y
DY
D000368:Aged; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*
D007371:Interferon-gamma