Abstract
BackgroundMycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains an unresolved threat resulting in great annual loss of life. The role of B cells during the protective immunity to Mtb is still unclear. B cells have been described as effector cells in addition to their role as antibody producing cells during disease.Here we aim to identify and characterize the frequency of peripheral B-cell subpopulations during active Tuberculosis and over treatment response. Analysis were done for both class switched (CS) and non-class switched (NCS) phenotypes. Methods We recruited participants with active untreated pulmonary Tuberculosis, other lung diseases and healthy community controls. All groups were followed up for one week from recruitment and the TB cases till the end of treatment (month 6).ResultsPeripheral blood samples were collected, stained with monoclonal antibodies to CD19+ cells, Immunoglobulin (Ig) M, plasma cells (CD 138+), marker of memory (CD27+), immune activation (CD23+) and acquired on a flow cytometer. Circulating Marginal zone B cells (CD19+IgM+CD23−CD27+) and memory phenotypes are able to distinguish between TB diagnosis and end of treatment. The frequency of mature B cells from TB cases are lower than that of other-lung diseases at diagnosis. A subpopulation of activated memory B cells (CD19+IgM+CD23+CD27+) cells are present at the end of TB treatment.ConclusionsThis study identified distinctive B cell subpopulations present during active TB disease and other lung disease conditions. These cell populations warrants further examination in larger studies as it may be informative as cell markers or as effectors/regulators in TB disease or TB treatment response.
Highlights
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains an unresolved threat resulting in great annual loss of life
Fifty-two had active drug susceptible tuberculosis disease (TB disease status was confirmed by two separate positive sputum smear tests and a PCR for DNA of bacteria of the Mtb complex, by utilising the GeneXpert platform), 20 were healthy community controls (Mtb culture negative, Quantiferon test positive, therefor assuming latently infected with Mtb) and the third group consisted of 24 other-lung disease (OLD) patients
This study reported that BCG elicited the production of long-lived mycobacteria-specific memory B cells [18], which supports the notion of high observed frequencies of memory B cells at diagnosis as BCG vaccination is a common practice at birth in South Africa
Summary
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains an unresolved threat resulting in great annual loss of life. B cell activation by Toll-like receptor (TLR) antigens or whole du Plessis et al Journal of Inflammation (2016) 13:23 organisms (like BCG or Mtb) can lead to a range of outcomes to the host, either by producing antibody, secreting cytokines (including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and interferon (IFN)-gamma) or presenting antigen to naïve T cells [2,3,4,5]. B cells have the capacity to limit the hosts defence (inflammatory response) against pathogens and shield against autoimmune pathologies. This demonstrates that B cells can have distinct roles as drivers and regulators of immunity depending on the functional properties they gain following receptor activation and differentiation
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