title: Tuberculin-specific T cells are reduced in active pulmonary tuberculosis compared to LTBI or status post BCG vaccination.
abstract: Functional characteristics of tuberculosis (TB)-specific CD4 T cells were studied in clinically active pulmonary TB (n = 21) and high TB exposure including LTBI (n = 17). Following tuberculin stimulation, activated CD4 T cells were identified by flow-cytometry (CD154 up-regulation, degranulation, interferon γ [IFN-γ], tumor necrosis factor α [TNF-α], and interleukin 2 [IL-2\ production). Interestingly, CD154 up-regulation accounted for ∼80% of activated CD4 T cells in the active TB group but just 40% in the controls, whereas IFN-γ accounted for only ∼50% of activated cells in each group. The frequencies of CD4 T cells displaying at least 1 activation marker discriminated better between the groups than those displaying degranulation or IFN-γ production alone.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Immunologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Mitte, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Streitz
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuhrmann
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quassem
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Holden
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maecker
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martus
authors.forename: Hans-Dieter
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Volk
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D014373:Tuberculin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D023201:CD40 Ligand