The adrenal steroid response during tuberculosis and its effects on the mycobacterial-driven IFN-gamma production of patients and their household contacts.
Earlier studies revealed that patients with tuberculosis (TB) have imbalanced immunoendocrine responses and that adrenal steroids [cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)] can modify their specific cell-mediated immune response. Because most household contacts (HHCs) of contagious TB patients develop a subclinical and self-controlled process (latent TB), we studied some features of their immune and endocrine responses, particularly those related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Nineteen HHCs, 24 untreated TB patients (15 moderate, 9 advanced), and 18 healthy controls of similar age were studied. Patients had increased and reduced levels of cortisol and DHEA, respectively. DHEA levels were also reduced in HHCs. Stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with Mycobacterium tuberculosis sonicate resulted in increased in vitro lymphoproliferation in HHCs, while advanced patients showed the lowest response. Significantly higher amounts of interferon (IFN)-gamma were detected in supernatants from stimulated PBMC of HHCs when compared to controls and TB patients. Addition of cortisol to the cultures inhibited mycobacterial antigen-driven IFN-gamma production in all groups, although HHC supernatant contained significantly higher concentrations. In contrast, addition of DHEA to cultures of cells from HHCs resulted in increased IFN-gamma levels. These results suggest the existence of a particular immunoendocrine relation assuring a preserved IFN-gamma production in healthy housemates of TB patients.
Bozza
Veronica
V
Institute of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Rosario, Argentina.
D'Attilio
Luciano
L
Didoli
Griselda
G
Santucci
Natalia
N
Nannini
Luis
L
Bogue
Cristina
C
Del Rey
Adriana
A
Besedovsky
Hugo
H
Bay
Maria Luisa
ML
Bottasso
Oscar
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D013010:Sonication; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006854:Hydrocortisone