title: Lymphocyte subpopulations in active tuberculosis: association with disease severity and the QFT-GIT assay.
abstract: Cell-mediated immune response plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis (TB). We retrospectively evaluated lymphocyte subpopulations in 177 active TB patients compared to 93 healthy controls, finding a relevant decrease in total lymphocytes and CD8+ cells. Conversely, activated human leukocyte antigen (HLA-DR+) and CD4+CD57+ cells were higher in the TB group. B-1a (CD5+CD19+) lymphocytes were reduced in TB subjects, particularly those with extended and cavitary pulmonary forms, suggesting increased compartmentalisation at the infection site. QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube positive results were associated with higher HLA-DR+CD4+ and CD4+CD57+ cells, while interferon-gamma response and total lymphocyte levels were lower in advanced pulmonary TB cases.
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Policlinico G B Rossi, Verona, Italy. lorenzo.guglielmetti@gmail.com
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guglielmetti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cazzadori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boccafoglio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ortolani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Concia
mesh_terms: D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology*; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma