Serum complement C4b, fibronectin, and prolidase are associated with the pathological changes of pulmonary tuberculosis.
BACKGROUND
Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection can activate the immune system, leading to characteristic pathological changes such as inflammatory granuloma, caseous necrosis, and cavity formation.


METHODS
Clinical data of 187 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) were analyzed using statistical methods, while serum levels of complement C4b (C4b), fibronectin (FN), and prolidase (PEPD) were detected using the ELISA method among the control, minimal PTB, moderate PTB, and advanced PTB groups.


RESULTS
We found significantly higher levels of serum C4b and PEPD (P = 0.018, P = 0.003), and significantly lower levels of serum FN (P < 0.001) in PTB patients. Furthermore, the serum levels of 3 proteins were significantly different among 3 PTB groups. FN level was significantly higher in the moderate PTB group, compared with patients in the minimal and advanced PTB groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). PEPD level was significantly higher in the moderate PTB group, compared with the minimal PTB group (P < 0.05). Analysis of clinical data showed that serum albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), prealbumin, and C4 were significantly higher (P < 0.05), while serum globulin was significantly lower in patients with PTB (P < 0.001). A significant negative correlation was found between C4b and albumin, prealbumin. On the other hand, a significant positive correlation was found between C4b and globulin, CRP, PEPD, as well as between PEPD and CRP (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that C4b, FN, and PEPD are associated with tissue damage, granuloma formation, and cavity formation, respectively, in patients with PTB. The present study provides a new experimental basis to understand the pathogenesis and pathological changes of PTB.
Chong
C
Wang
Yan-Yuan
YY
Li
Xiang
X
Li
Li-Liang
LL
Wei
Xiu-Yun
XY
Yang
Dan-Dan
DD
Xu
Ting-Ting
TT
Jiang
Zhong-Jie
ZJ
Li
Zhong-Liang
ZL
Chen
Xing
X
Zhang
Ji-Yan
JY
Liu
Ze-Peng
ZP
Ping
Institute of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, P,R, China. lijichen@zju.edu.cn.
Ji-Cheng
JC
Li
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015935:Complement C4b / Q000032:analysis*; D004150:Dipeptidases / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
D005353:Fibronectins; D015935:Complement C4b; D004150:Dipeptidases; C022449:proline dipeptidase