title: Glutathione levels and immune responses in tuberculosis patients.
abstract: Glutathione levels are significantly reduced in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and red blood cells isolated from tuberculosis patients. Treatment of blood cultures from tuberculosis patients with N-acetyl cysteine, a glutathione precursor, was associated with improved control of intracellular M. tuberculosis infection. N-acetyl-cysteine treatment decreased the levels of IL-10, IL-6, TNF-alpha and IL-1, in blood cultures derived from tuberculosis patients, favoring the host immune cells to successfully control M. tuberculosis replication.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. venketvi@gmail.com
authors.forename: Vishwanath
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venketaraman
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Millman
authors.forename: Marwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.forename: Shobha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swaminathan
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.forename: Alfred
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lardizabal
authors.lastname: David Hom
authors.forename: Nancy D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Connell
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine