title: [Analysis of ESAT-6-specific multifunctional CD4+; T cells in pleural fluid from patients with tuberculous pleurisy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate cytokine production by CD4(+); T cells and frequency of multifunctional CD4(+); T cells after stimulation with ESAT-6 peptide pool. To understand the role of ESAT-6 specific CD4(+); T cells in the control of local TB infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  PFCs were isolated from patients with tuberculous pleurisy, and assessed by flow cytometry for cytokine production, subpopulation, frequency and function of multifunctional CD4(+);T cells after stimulation with ESAT-6 peptide pool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following stimulation with BCG, ESAT-6 peptide pool and recombinant ESAT-6 protein, CD4(+); but not CD8(+); T cells expressed IFN-γ, IL-2 and TNF-α. Distinct from BCG, ESAT-6 peptide pool and recombinant ESAT-6 protein induced similar frequencies of IFN-γ, IL-2 and TNF-α. High frequency of multifunctional CD4(+);T cells was observed. Analysis of mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) indicated that triple positive cells produced most amounts of cytokines on single cell level compared with double positive and single positive cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ESAT-6 peptide pool predominantly induced Th1 cytokine production by CD4(+);T cells in PFCs. Multifunctional CD4(+); T cells were observed and secreted most amounts of cytokines on single cell level, suggesting that these cells probably played essential role in local TB infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control Research of Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China. ly_li@yahoo.cn
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xian-lan
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Sui-hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lao
authors.forename: Chang-you
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010994:Pleura / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C093276:ESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma