LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF CD4 AND CD8 T CELLS PRODUCING CYTOKINE DURING DOTS THERAPY IN TB PATIENTS AND HEALTHY HUMANS

Abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) . Immune response to M. tuberculosis is complex and several T cells, cytokines could play a role in protective response. In the present study CD4, CD8 and their cytokines such as (IL-4, IFN-ã) were analysed in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen (ESAT-6 and PPD). Sixty seven active pulmonary TB patients were recruited 0 MF (Month follow up), followed up for 2MF and patients had completed 6 months of chemotherapy and patients had completed treatment at 6 months but further followed up after 3 months . The 45 control group consisted of PPD positive household contacts (HHC). In addition, IFNã production in PBMC cultures from 24 patients were measured following stimulation with the M.tb specific protein ESAT6 and PPD. We observed significantly higher CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing IFN-ã in HHC as compared to patients and this finding suggests that there were defective IFN-ã production in patients and which remained low after 6 month chemotherapy, but after 9 month, levels again increased. These findings suggest the better performance of IFN-ã in HHC as compared to patients, may be the useful TB disease biomarkers in monitoring treatment success.