title: Decreased plasma granulysin and increased interferon-gamma concentrations in patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed tuberculosis.
abstract: Granulysin and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) have broad antimicrobial activity which controls Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection. Circulating granulysin and IFN-γ concentrations were measured and correlated with clinical disease in Thai patients with newly diagnosed, relapsed and chronic tuberculosis (TB). Compared to controls, patients with newly diagnosed, relapsed and chronic TB had lower circulating granulysin concentrations, these differences being significant only in newly diagnosed and relapsed TB (P < 0.001 and 0.004, respectively). Granulysin concentrations in patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed TB were significantly lower than in those with chronic TB (P= 0.003 and P= 0.022, respectively). In contrast, significantly higher circulating IFN-γ concentrations were found in patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed TB compared to controls (P < 0.001). The IFN-γ concentrations in newly diagnosed and relapsed patients were not significantly different from those of patients with chronic TB. However, in vitro stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with newly diagnosed, relapsed and chronic TB with purified protein derivative (PPD) or heat killed M. tuberculosis (H37Ra) enhanced production of granulysin by PBMCs. In vitro, stimulation of PBMCs of newly diagnosed TB patients with PPD produced greater amounts of IFN-γ than did controls, while those stimulated with H37Ra did not. The results demonstrate that patients with active pulmonary TB have low circulating granulysin but high IFN-γ concentrations, suggesting possible roles in host defense against M. tuberculosis for these agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pitabut
authors.forename: Surakameth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahasirimongkol
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yanai
authors.forename: Chutharut
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ridruechai
authors.forename: Shinsaku
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakurada
authors.forename: Panadda
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dhepakson
authors.forename: Pacharee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kantipong
authors.forename: Surachai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piyaworawong
authors.forename: Saiyud
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moolphate
authors.forename: Chamnarn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hansudewechakul
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keicho
authors.forename: Masaji
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Srisin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khusmith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry*; D012008:Recurrence; D013785:Thailand; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; C075005:GNLY protein, human; D007371:Interferon-gamma