Immunophenotypic and intracellular cytokine profile of Indian patients with tuberculosis with and without human immunodeficiency virus co-infection.
BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis (TB) occurs in more than 50% of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected Indian patients. This study was carried out to determine the immunophenotypic and intracellular cytokine profile of patients with HIV-TB co-infection.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with HIV-TB co-infection and 15 each with TB alone and healthy individuals were studied. Immunophenotypic analysis and intracellular cytokines were measured using appropriate antibodies on a flowcytometer.


RESULTS
Percentage of CD3+ did not differ significantly in the three groups. The ratio of CD4+ : CD8+ was reversed among patients with TB and HIV-TB. CD19+ and CD25+ were present on fewer cells of healthy individuals but this was not statistically significant. Significantly higher percentage of cells of patients with TB and HIV-TB were CD69 positive. Interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels are significantly reduced in the CD4+ cells of patients with HIV-TB when compared with those with TB and healthy individuals. In CD8+ cells of patients with HIV-TB, levels of TNF-alpha are higher when compared with the other two groups. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) producing cells were not significantly different in any of the above subsets. Monocytes in individuals with HIV-TB had significantly higher interleukin-6 (IL-6) and TNF-alpha.


CONCLUSIONS
T-helper cells among patients with HIV-TB have significantly lower cytokine production. T-suppressor cells and monocytes produce more TNF-alpha. These findings may be significant in view of recent attempts to treat HIV-TB coinfected patients with anti-TNF therapy.
Wanchu
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. awanchu@yahoo.com
Bhatnagar
A
A
Talreja
J
J
Sapra
S
S
Suryanarayana
B S
BS
Suresh
P
P
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D016207:Cytokines