title: [ELISPOT response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens for diagnosing and monitoring tuberculosis patient therapy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Using the ELISPOT assay, a promising immunological tool for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) antigen-specific response, we monitored the clinical course of patients with tuberculosis (TB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained from 35 patients with TB and healthy controls, numbering 52 age-matched control subjects and 43 university students. Nine of those with TB were examined twice before and after anti-tuberculosis treatment. The frequency of IFN-gamma secreting cells was determined using the ELISPOT assay in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) stimulated with purified protein derivative (PPD), early secretory antigenic target 6 (ESAT-6), and culture filtrate protein 10 (CFP-10).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of PPD secreting cells correlated significantly with tuberculin skin test (TST) magnitude in BCG-vaccinated individuals. Significant responses to either ESAT-6 or CFP-10 were found in 94% of those with TB. The frequency of IFN-gamma secreting cells decreased when negative sputum tests were confirmed by successful tuberculosis treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ELISPOT assay detecting MTB-specific immune response is promising both in diagnosing MTB and monitoring responsiveness to tuberculosis therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takeno
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kudo
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanuki
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishigatsubo
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; C072681:Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens