Complexity and Controversies over the Cytokine Profiles of T Helper Cell Subpopulations in Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infectious disease caused by the TB-causing bacillus Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is considered a public health problem with enormous social impact. Disease progression is determined mainly by the balance between the microorganism and the host defense systems. Although the immune system controls the infection, this control does not necessarily lead to sterilization. Over recent decades, the patterns of CD4+ T cell responses have been studied with a goal of complete understanding of the immunological mechanisms involved in the maintenance of latent or active tuberculosis infection and of the clinical cure after treatment. Conflicting results have been suggested over the years, particularly in studies comparing experimental models and human disease. In recent years, in addition to Th1, Th2, and Th17 profiles, new standards of cellular immune responses, such as Th9, Th22, and IFN-γ-IL-10 double-producing Th cells, discussed here, have also been described. Additionally, many new roles and cellular sources have been described for IL-10, demonstrating a critical role for this cytokine as regulatory, rather than merely pathogenic cytokine, involved in the establishment of chronic latent infection, in the clinical cure after treatment and in keeping antibacillary effector mechanisms active to prevent immune-mediated damage.
Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, 38025-180 Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
Marcos Vinicius
MV
da Silva
Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, 38025-180 Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
Monique Gomes Salles
MG
Tiburcio
Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, 38025-180 Uberaba, MG, Brazil ; Department of Pathology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goias, 74605-050 Goiania, GO, Brazil.
Juliana Reis
JR
Machado
Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, 38025-180 Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
Djalma Alexandre Alves
DA
Silva
Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, 38025-180 Uberaba, MG, Brazil ; Cefores, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, 38015-050 Uberaba, MG, Brazil ; Laboratory of Biopathology and Molecular Biology, University of Uberaba, 38055-500 Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
Denise Bertulucci Rocha
DB
Rodrigues
Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, 38025-180 Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
Virmondes
V
Rodrigues
Laboratory of Immunology, Federal University of Triangulo Mineiro, 38025-180 Uberaba, MG, Brazil.
Carlo Jose Freire
CJ
Oliveira
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D016207:Cytokines; D016753:Interleukin-10