Association of mycobacterial antigen-specific CD4(+) memory T cell subsets with outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE
Memory T cells are hallmark of acquired immunological responses. The relationship of mycobacterial antigen-specific CD4(+) memory T cell subsets with pulmonary tuberculosis was investigated.


METHODS
The mycobacterial antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells were detected based on CD154 expression and phenotypes of memory T cell were analyzed by surface staining of CD45RA and CCR7 and flow cytometrical analysis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and in tuberculin-positive healthy controls. The association of antigen-specific CD4(+) memory T cell subsets with disease severity and anti-TB treatment was analyzed in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.


RESULTS
Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis had significantly lower frequencies of antigen-specific central memory T cells (T(CM)) (p=0.019) and higher frequencies of effector memory T cells (T(EM)) (p=0.022) compared with tuberculin-positive healthy controls without tuberculosis. Patients with smear/culture positive results showed lower population frequencies of T(CM) and significantly higher frequencies of T(EM) (p=0.015) than those with smear/culture negative results. Treatment of TB patients with standard antibiotic regimens for more than one month led to significantly increased frequencies of T(CM) (p=0.031).


CONCLUSIONS
The frequencies of mycobacterial antigen-specific T(CM) and T(EM) are associated with disease severity of pulmonary tuberculosis and T(CM) are associated with short-term effects of anti-TB chemotherapy.
Wang
Xinjing
X
Division of Research, Institute of Tuberculosis, 309 Hospital, Beijing, 17 Hei Shan Hu Road, Haidian, Beijing 100091, People's Republic of China.
Cao
Zhihong
Z
Jiang
Jing
J
Niu
Hanjie
H
Dong
Mei
M
Tong
Aihua
A
Cheng
Xiaoxing
X
D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D054400:Receptors, CCR7 / Q000032:analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; C515370:CCR7 protein, human; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens