title: Efficacy of Mycobacterium indicus pranii immunotherapy as an adjunct to chemotherapy for tuberculosis and underlying immune responses in the lung.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 9-month-long chemotherapy of tuberculosis often results in poor compliance and emergence of drug-resistant strains. So, improved therapeutic strategy is urgently needed. Immunotherapy could be beneficial for the effective management of the disease. Previously we showed the protective efficacy of Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) when given as prophylactic vaccine in animal models of tuberculosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We sought to investigate whether MIP can be used as an adjunct to the chemotherapy in guinea pig models of tuberculosis. Efficacy of MIP was evaluated when given subcutaneously or by aerosol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MIP-therapy as an adjunct to the chemotherapy was found to be effective in accelerating bacterial killing and improving organ pathology. MIP-immunotherapy resulted in higher numbers of activated antigen-presenting cells and lymphocytes in the infected lungs and also modulated the granulomatous response. Early increase in protective Th1 immune response was observed in the immunotherapy group. Following subsequent doses of MIP, decrease in the inflammatory response and increase in the immunosuppressive response was observed, which resulted in the improvement of lung pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MIP immunotherapy is a valuable adjunct to chemotherapy for tuberculosis. Aerosol route of immunotherapy can play a crucial role for inducing immediate local immune response in the lung.
authors: Product Development Cell, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, Delhi, India.
authors: Ankan
authors: A
authors: Gupta
authors: Farhan J
authors: FJ
authors: Ahmad
authors: Faiz
authors: F
authors: Ahmad
authors: Umesh D
authors: UD
authors: Gupta
authors: Mohan
authors: M
authors: Natarajan
authors: Vishwamohan
authors: V
authors: Katoch
authors: Sangeeta
authors: S
authors: Bhaskar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058491:Bacterial Load / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006099:Granuloma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D009928:Organ Specificity; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D016207:Cytokines