title: Natural killer cells, glutathione, cytokines, and innate immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
abstract: It is becoming increasingly apparent that natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in innate defense mechanisms against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Furthermore, NK cell functions are dependent on adequate levels of glutathione. In this study, we examined whether the NK cell-mediated growth control of intracellular M. tuberculosis is dependent on adequate levels of glutathione. We investigated the effects of glutathione both alone and in combination with interleukin-2 (IL-2) or IL-12 or both in modulating NK cell functions, such as cytolytic activity, activating receptor expression, induction of apoptosis, and cytokine synthesis. Our results strongly indicate that glutathione in combination with IL-2+IL-12 augments NK cell functions, leading to control M. tuberculosis infection.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Ariel C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Millman
authors.forename: Marwa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salman
authors.forename: Yaswant K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Dayaram
authors.forename: Nancy D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Connell
authors.forename: Vishwanath
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venketaraman
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D040081:Protein Array Analysis
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D018664:Interleukin-12; D005978:Glutathione