Abstract
The skin tuberculin test (TST), an example of a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction, is based on measuring the extent of skin induration to mycobacterial tuberculin (PPD). Little is known about the genetic basis of TST reactivity, widely used for diagnosing TB infection. The study investigated the relationship of the single base change polymorphic variants in CD14 gene (CD14(-159C/T)) with the development of DTH to PPD in BCG-vaccinated Polish Caucasian individuals. We found persistent lack of TST reactivity in about 40% of healthy subjects despite receiving more than one dose of BCG. The TST size was negatively correlated with the number of BCG inoculations. The distribution of C/T genotype was significantly more frequent among TST-negative compared with TST-positive individuals. The concentration of serum sCD14 was positively associated with mCD14 expression, but not with the TST status or CD14(-159C/T) polymorphism. A significant increase in mCD14 expression and serum sCD14 levels was found in TB group. We hypothesize that CD14(-159C/T) polymorphic variants might be one of genetic components in the response to attenuated M. bovis BCG bacilli.
Highlights
Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) is mentioned together with AIDS and malaria among the most dangerous infectious diseases threatening human health and life
On the basis of these findings, we focused on the relationship of single base change polymorphic variants identified in the promoter region of CD14 gene with the development of the skin tuberculin delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction in Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-vaccinated individuals
In the TST(-) group, 9 (18%) participants had received BCG vaccine only once at birth, 22 (46%) individuals had received a second BCG dose at the age of 6, and 12 (24%), 5(10%) and 1 (2%) volunteers had been revaccinated with BCG three, four and five times, respectively (Table 1)
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) is mentioned together with AIDS and malaria among the most dangerous infectious diseases threatening human health and life. Despite the generally accepted standard of treatment TB is still a huge global epidemiological problem. There are 7–10 million new TB cases in the world, which is the cause of death of about 3 million people each year [1]. An attenuated strain of M. bovis BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin) is still the only generally accepted vaccine against TB. 100 million newborns are vaccinated with BCG every year in more than 180 countries. Despite the fact that it has been more than 80 years since the first administration of BCG, the effectiveness of the vaccine is still the subject of disputes and discussions.
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