title: Increased frequency of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ T regulatory cells in pulmonary tuberculosis patients undergoing specific treatment and its relationship with their immune-endocrine profile.
abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem requiring an appropriate cell immune response (IR) to be controlled. Since regulatory T cells (Tregs) are relevant in IR regulation, we analyzed Tregs variations throughout the course of TB treatment and its relationship with changes in immune-endocrine mediators dealing with disease immunopathology. The cohort was composed of 41 adult patients, 20 of them completing treatment and follow-up. Patients were bled at diagnosis (T0) and at 2 (T2), 4 (T4), 6 (T6), and 9 months following treatment initiation. Twenty-four age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCo) were also included. Tregs (flow cytometry) from TB patients were increased at T0 (versus HCo P < 0.05), showing even higher values at T2 (versus T0 P < 0.01) and T4 (versus T0 P < 0.001). While IL-6, IFN-γ, TGF-β (ELISA), and Cortisol (electrochemiluminescence, EQ) were augmented, DHEA-S (EQ) levels were diminished at T0 with respect to HCo, with cytokines and Cortisol returning to normal values at T9. Tregs correlated positively with IFN-γ (R = 0.868, P < 0.05) at T2 and negatively at T4 (R = -0.795, P < 0.05). Lowered levels of proinflammatory cytokines together with an increased frequency of Tregs of patients undergoing specific treatment might reflect a downmodulatory effect of these cells on the accompanying inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ariana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Díaz
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Santucci
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bongiovanni
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: D'Attilio
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Centenary Provincial Hospital, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massoni
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Centenary Provincial Hospital, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lioi
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory, Centenary Provincial Hospital, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Radcliffe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Griselda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dídoli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bottasso
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015704:CD4 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D015704:CD4 Antigens; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D019314:Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D006854:Hydrocortisone