scholarly journals Clinical and Immunologic Features of an Atypical Intracranial Mycobacterium avium Complex (MAC) Infection Compared with Those of Pulmonary MAC Infections

2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 1580-1589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mouhannad Sadek ◽  
Feng Yun Yue ◽  
Erika Yue Lee ◽  
Gabor Gyenes ◽  
R. Brad Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Mycobacterium Avium ◽  
The Body ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Healthy Elderly ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
The Individual

ABSTRACT Members of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) may cause chronic pulmonary infections in otherwise healthy elderly persons but rarely invade parts of the body outside of the lungs in immunocompetent hosts. We present a case of an isolated intracranial MAC infection in an apparently immunocompetent individual and review previous reports. We studied the T-cell and monocyte responses in healthy volunteers, individuals with a pulmonary MAC infection, and one individual with an isolated intracranial MAC infection. Genomic DNA from the individual with the brain MAC infection was studied for gamma interferon (IFN-γ) receptor mutations. Individuals with localized pulmonary MAC infections showed increased activation of monocytes and enhanced monocyte and T-cell tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production in response to lipopolysaccharide and MAC antigens but defects in T-cell IFN-γ secretion. The individual with an intracranial MAC infection showed a lack of monocyte activation and deficiencies in both monocyte and T-cell TNF-α production and monocyte interleukin-12 (IL-12) production but had preserved T-cell IFN-γ production. Mutations or deletions in the IFN-γ receptor were not detected in the individual with the intracranial MAC infection. Our data suggest that distinct immune defects characterize two different manifestations of MAC infection. A relative defect in IFN-γ production in response to MAC may predispose an individual to localized but partially controlled lung disease, whereas defects leading to reduced IL-12 and TNF-α production may allow the dissemination of MAC. Further studies delineating the potential role of TNF-α in limiting the spread of MAC outside the lung are warranted.

scholarly journals Respiratory Tract Infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Interleukin-12 Knockout Mice Results in Improved Bacterial Clearance and Reduced Pulmonary Inflammation

2006 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 236-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Salvatore ◽  
M. Fonseca-Aten ◽  
K. Katz-Gaynor ◽  
A. M. Gomez ◽  
A. Mejias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Disease ◽  
Mycoplasma Pneumoniae ◽  
Pulmonary Inflammation ◽  
Airway Hyperreactivity ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACT Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia and is associated with asthma. Evidence links M. pneumoniae respiratory disease severity with interleukin-12 (IL-12) concentration in respiratory secretions. We evaluated the microbiologic, inflammatory, and pulmonary function indices of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in IL-12 (p35) knockout (KO) mice and wild-type (WT) mice to determine the role of IL-12 in M. pneumoniae respiratory disease. Eight-week-old wild-type BALB/c mice and 8-week-old IL-12 (p35) KO BALB/c mice were inoculated once intranasally with 107 CFU of M. pneumoniae. Mice were evaluated at days 2, 4, and 7 after inoculation. Outcome variables included quantitative bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) M. pneumoniae culture, lung histopathologic scores (HPS), BAL cytokine concentrations determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], gamma interferon [IFN-γ], IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and plethysmography, before and after methacholine, to assess airway obstruction (AO) and airway hyperreactivity (AHR). IL-12 (p35) KO mice infected with M. pneumoniae were found to have significantly lower BAL M. pneumoniae concentrations compared with M. pneumoniae-infected WT mice. Lung HPS and the parenchymal pneumonia subscores (neutrophilic alveolar infiltrate), as well as AO, were significantly lower in infected KO mice. No difference was found for AHR. Infected KO mice had significantly lower BAL concentrations of IFN-γ than WT mice; a trend toward lower BAL concentrations was observed for IL-10 (P = 0.065) and TNF-α (P = 0.078). No differences were found for IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, or IL-6. The lack of IL-12 in experimental M. pneumoniae pneumonia was associated with less severe pulmonary disease and more rapid microbiologic and histologic resolution.

scholarly journals Toll-Like Receptor 9 Is Required for Full Host Resistance toMycobacteriumaviumInfection but Plays No Role in Induction of Th1 Responses

2011 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 1638-1646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natália B. Carvalho ◽  
Fernanda S. Oliveira ◽  
Fernanda V. Durães ◽  
Leonardo A. de Almeida ◽  
Manuela Flórido ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Toll Like Receptor ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Histocompatibility Complex ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Factor Alpha ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Myd88 Signaling ◽  
Necrosis Factor

ABSTRACTTo investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) in innate immunity toMycobacteriumavium, TLR9, TLR2, and MyD88 knockout (KO) mice were infected with this bacterium. Bacterial burdens were higher in the spleens, livers, and lungs of infected TLR9 KO mice than in those of C57BL/6 mice, indicating that TLR9 is required for efficient control ofM.aviuminfection. However, TLR9 KO or TLR2 KO spleen cells displayed normalM.avium-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) responses. This finding was confirmed by determining the number of splenic CD4+T cells producing IFN-γ by flow cytometry. Furthermore, TLR2 and MyD88, but not TLR9, played a major role in interleukin-12 and TNF-α production byM.avium-infected macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). We also found that major histocompatibility complex class II molecule expression on DCs is regulated by TLR2 and MyD88 signaling but not by TLR9. Finally, lack of TLR9, TLR2, or MyD88 reduced the numbers of macrophages, epithelioid cells, and lymphocytes inM.avium-induced granulomas but only MyD88 deficiency affected the number of liver granulomas. In summary, our data demonstrated that the involvement of TLR9 in the control ofM.aviuminfection is not related to the induction of Th1 responses.

scholarly journals T Cell–mediated Pathology in Two Models of Experimental Colitis Depends Predominantly on the Interleukin 12/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (Stat)-4 Pathway, but Is Not Conditional on Interferon γ Expression by T Cells

1998 ◽  
Vol 187 (8) ◽  
pp. 1225-1234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen J. Simpson ◽  
Samir Shah ◽  
Martina Comiskey ◽  
Ype P. de Jong ◽  
Baoping Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Experimental Colitis ◽  
Interferon Γ ◽  
Adoptive Cell Transfer ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Signal Transducer ◽  
Immunodeficient Mice ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

The requirements for interleukin (IL)-12/signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)-4 signaling and induction of T cell–specific interferon (IFN)-γ expression in the development of T helper cell (Th)1–type pathology were examined in two different models of experimental colitis. In each model, abnormal reconstitution of the T cell compartment in immunodeficient mice by adoptive cell transfer leads to a wasting syndrome and inflammation of the colon, induced by IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α–producing T cells. We show here that treatment with anti–IL-12 antibodies in one of the models, or reconstitution with T cells from Stat-4–deficient (Stat-4null) mice in both models resulted in a milder disease in the majority of recipient animals, compared with those that were left untreated or that had been reconstituted with wt cells. Protected mice in each group also harbored lower frequencies of IFN-γ–producing T cells than did diseased mice, suggesting that effects on wasting and colitis resulted from the attenuation of IFN-γ expression by T cells. To test whether the development of pathogenic T cells in the two colitis models was directly dependent on T cell–specific IFN-γ expression, IFN-γnull donors were used for T cell reconstitution in each system. Surprisingly, large numbers of IFN-γnull–reconstituted mice developed wasting and colitis, which in many cases was of comparable severity to that seen in animals reconstituted with wt cells. Furthermore, T cells from these animals expressed TNF-α, demonstrating that they had retained the ability to produce another proinflammatory cytokine. Taken together, these results demonstrate that in some forms of chronic experimental colitis the development of pathogenic T cells is influenced predominantly, though not exclusively, by IL-12 via the actions of Stat-4 proteins. Furthermore, our data suggest that in the models of colitis studied here the effects of IL-12/Stat-4 or other Th1 promoting pathways are not limited to the induction of IFN-γ gene expression in T lymphocytes.

scholarly journals In Vivo Regulation of Replicative Legionella pneumophila Lung Infection by Endogenous Interleukin-12

1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Brieland ◽  
D. G. Remick ◽  
M. L. LeGendre ◽  
N. C. Engleberg ◽  
J. C. Fantone
Keyword(s):  
Legionella Pneumophila ◽  
Lung Infection ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Protein Levels ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Factor Alpha ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACT The in vivo role of endogenous interleukin 12 (IL-12) in modulating intrapulmonary growth of Legionella pneumophila was assessed by using a murine model of replicative L. pneumophila lung infection. Intratracheal inoculation of A/J mice with virulent bacteria (106 L. pneumophilacells per mouse) resulted in induction of IL-12, which preceded clearance of the bacteria from the lung. Inhibition of endogenous IL-12 activity, via administration of IL-12 neutralizing antiserum, resulted in enhanced intrapulmonary growth of the bacteria within 5 days postinfection (compared to untreated L. pneumophila-infected mice). Because IL-12 has previously been shown to modulate the expression of cytokines, including gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-10, which regulate L. pneumophila growth, immunomodulatory effects of endogenous IL-12 on intrapulmonary levels of these cytokines during replicative L. pneumophila lung infection were subsequently assessed. Results of these experiments demonstrated that TNF-α activity was significantly lower, while protein levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 in the lung were similar, in L. pneumophila-infected mice administered IL-12 antiserum, compared to similarly infected untreated mice. Together, these results demonstrate that IL-12 is critical for resolution of replicativeL. pneumophila lung infection and suggest that regulation of intrapulmonary growth of L. pneumophila by endogenous IL-12 is mediated, at least in part, by TNF-α.

scholarly journals CCR7-Dependent Immunity during Acute Toxoplasma gondii Infection

2010 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. 2257-2263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahani Noor ◽  
Andrew S. Habashy ◽  
J. Philip Nance ◽  
Robin T. Clark ◽  
Kiav Nemati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Parasite Burden ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 1 ◽  
Absolute Requirement ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACT The chemokine receptor CCR7 is a well-established homing receptor for dendritic cells and T cells. Interactions with its ligands, CCL19 and CCL21, facilitate priming of immune responses in lymphoid tissue, yet CCR7-independent immune responses can be generated in the presence of sufficient antigen. In these studies, we investigated the role of CCR7 signaling in the generation of protective immune responses to the intracellular protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The results demonstrated a significant increase in the expression of CCL19, CCL21, and CCR7 in peripheral and central nervous system (CNS) tissues over the course of infection. Unexpectedly, despite the presence of abundant antigen, CCR7 was an absolute requirement for protective immunity to T. gondii, as CCR7−/− mice succumbed to the parasite early in the acute phase of infection. Although serum levels of interleukin 12 (IL-12), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and IL-10 remained unchanged, there was a significant decrease in CCL2/monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and inflammatory monocyte recruitment to the site of infection. In addition, CCR7−/− mice failed to produce sufficient gamma interferon (IFN-γ), a critical Th1-associated effector cytokine required to control parasite replication. As a result, there was increased parasite dissemination and a significant increase in parasite burden in the lungs, livers, and brains of infected mice. Adoptive-transfer experiments revealed that expression of CCR7 on the T-cell compartment alone is sufficient to enable T-cell priming, increase IFN-γ production, and allow the survival of CCR7−/− mice. These data demonstrate an absolute requirement for T-cell expression of CCR7 for the generation of protective immune responses to Toxoplasma infection.

scholarly journals Microfilariae of the Filarial Nematode Litomosoides sigmodontis Exacerbate the Course of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Sepsis in Mice

2008 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 1668-1677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc P. Hübner ◽  
Bastian Pasche ◽  
Svetoslav Kalaydjiev ◽  
Peter T. Soboslay ◽  
Andreas Lengeling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Proinflammatory Cytokines ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Female Adult ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Lps Challenge ◽  
Litomosoides Sigmodontis ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACT Helminths facilitate their own survival by actively modulating the immune systems of their hosts. We investigated the impacts that different life cycle stages of the rodent filaria Litomosoides sigmodontis have on the inflammatory responses of mice injected with sublethal doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Mice infected with female adult worms from prepatent infections, worms which have not yet started to release microfilariae, developed lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the peripheral blood after LPS challenge than sham-treated controls, demonstrating that female adult worms can mitigate the innate immune response. The presence of microfilariae in mice, however, through either direct injection or implantation of microfilaria-releasing adult female worms, turned the LPS challenge fatal. This lethal outcome was characterized by increased plasma levels of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 12 (IL-12), and IL-6, greater numbers of macrophages and granulocytes in the peripheral blood, and decreased body temperatures in microfilaria-infected mice. Microfilaria-infected mice deficient in IFN-γ receptor and TNF receptor 1 had increased survival rates after LPS challenge compared to immune-competent mice, suggesting that microfilariae worsen LPS-induced sepsis through actions of IFN-γ and TNF-α. In summary, we have demonstrated that infection of mice with L. sigmodontis female adult worms from prepatent infections protects mice injected with LPS whereas microfilariae worsen LPS-induced sepsis through the induction of proinflammatory cytokines and upregulation of granulocytes, NK cells, and monocytes in the peripheral blood.

scholarly journals Induction of Interleukin-12 and Gamma Interferon Requires Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha for Protective T1-Cell-Mediated Immunity to Pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans Infection

2002 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 2959-2964 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy C. Herring ◽  
John Lee ◽  
Roderick A. McDonald ◽  
Galen B. Toews ◽  
Gary B. Huffnagle
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Necrosis Factor ◽  
Tumor Necrosis ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Cell Mediated Immunity ◽  
Pulmonary Eosinophilia ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Factor Alpha ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Necrosis Factor

ABSTRACT The development of T1-cell-mediated immunity is required to clear a pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans infection. The objective of these studies was to determine the mechanism by which tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) augments the development of pulmonary T1 immunity to C. neoformans infection. TNF-α expression was detected in lavage sample cells at days 2, 3, and 7 following C. neoformans infection. The numbers of CFU in the lung were not different between control and anti-TNF-α-treated mice at any time point examined during the afferent phase of the response (days 0 to 7). However, neutralization of TNF-α prevented the initiation of pulmonary clearance during the efferent phase of the response (day 14). Administration of anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody (day 0) diminished the lung levels of TNF-α, interleukin-12 (IL-12), and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) induced by C. neoformans at day 7 postinfection. Neutralization of TNF-α (day 0) also altered the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in the lung-associated lymph nodes at day 7 following C. neoformans infection. Anti-TNF-α-treated mice developed a pulmonary eosinophilia at day 14 postinfection. Consistent with the pulmonary eosinophilia, anti-TNF-α-treated mice exhibited elevated serum immunoglobulin E and inhibition of the anticryptococcal delayed-type hypersensitivity response, indicating a shift toward a T2 response. Neutralization of IL-12 also prevented lung leukocyte production of IFN-γ in response to the infection. These findings demonstrate that afferent-phase TNF-α production is essential for the induction of IL-12 and IFN-γ and neutralization of early TNF-α results in a T2 shift of the T1/T2 balance of antifungal immunity.

scholarly journals Prediction and Validation of Immunogenic Domains of Pneumococcal Proteins Recognized by Human CD4+T Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martijn D. B. van de Garde ◽  
Els van Westen ◽  
Martien C. M. Poelen ◽  
Nynke Y. Rots ◽  
Cécile A. C. M. van Els
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Cell Clone ◽  
Bioinformatics Tool ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
T Cell Clone ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACTCD4+T-cell mechanisms are implied in protection against pneumococcal colonization; however, their target antigens and function are not well defined. In contrast to high-throughput protein arrays for serology, basic antigen tools for CD4+T-cell studies are lacking. Here, we evaluate the potential of a bioinformatics tool forin silicoprediction of immunogenicity as a method to reveal domains of pneumococcal proteins targeted by human CD4+T cells. For 100 pneumococcal proteins, CD4+T-cell immunogenicity was predicted based on HLA-DRB1 binding motifs. For 20 potentially CD4+T-cell immunogenic proteins, epitope regions were verified by testing synthetic peptides in T-cell assays using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy adults. Peptide pools of 19 out of 20 proteins evoked T-cell responses. The most frequent responses (detectable in ≥20% of donors tested) were found to SP_0117 (PspA), SP_0468 (putative sortase), SP_0546 (BlpZ), SP_1650 (PsaA), SP_1923 (Ply), SP_2048 (conserved hypothetical protein), SP_2216 (PscB), and SPR_0907 (PhtD). Responding donors had diverging recognition patterns and profiles of signature cytokines (gamma interferon [IFN-γ], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interleukin-13 [IL-13], and/or IL-17A) against single-epitope regions. Natural HLA-DR-restricted presentation and recognition of a predicted SP_1923-derived epitope were validated through the isolation of a CD4+T-cell clone producing IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17A in response to the synthetic peptide, whole protein, and heat-inactivated pneumococcus. This proof of principle for a bioinformatics tool to identify pneumococcal protein epitopes targeted by human CD4+T cells provides a peptide-based strategy to study cell-mediated immune mechanisms for the pneumococcal proteome, advancing the development of immunomonitoring assays and targeted vaccine approaches.

scholarly journals Similar Cytokine Responses and Degrees of Anemia in Patients with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax Infections in the Brazilian Amazon Region

2008 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 650-658 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andréa Aparecida Morais Fernandes ◽  
Leonardo José de Moura Carvalho ◽  
Graziela Maria Zanini ◽  
Ana Maria Revorêdo da Silva Ventura ◽  
José Maria Souza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasmodium Falciparum ◽  
Plasmodium Vivax ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Cytokine Responses ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Brazilian Amazon Region ◽  
Ifn Γ

ABSTRACT The mechanisms of malarial anemia induction are poorly understood, but cytokines and autoantibodies are considered to play important roles. This work aimed at evaluating the degree of anemia and the plasmatic profile of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-12 (IL-12), migration inhibitory factor (MIF), and IL-10 and the monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) chemokine, as well as evaluating the presence of antibodies directed to components of the normal erythrocyte membrane and to cardiolipin in individuals with malaria from the Brazilian Amazon. No difference was observed in the frequency of anemia between patients infected by Plasmodium vivax and those infected by Plasmodium falciparum, and there was no relationship between the levels of parasitemia and the manifestations of anemia in P. vivax and P. falciparum patients. Significant increases in the concentrations of TNF-α, IFN-γ, MIF, and MCP-1 were observed in patients with P. falciparum and P. vivax malaria, whereas the concentrations of IL-10 was increased only in patients with P. vivax infection. Higher concentrations of IL-12 and IL-10 were observed in the P. falciparum anemic patients, while for TNF-α this profile was observed in the nonanemic ones. P. vivax-infected and P. falciparum-infected patients with positive immunoglobulin M (IgM) or IgM and IgG responses, respectively, against blood-stage forms of the parasites had significantly lower hemoglobin levels than did those with negative responses. There was no correlation between the presence of anti-erythrocyte and anti-cardiolipin antibodies and the presence or intensity of the anemia. Our data suggest that in areas of low endemicity and unstable transmission of malaria, P. vivax and P. falciparum infections present similar characteristics in terms of the induction of anemia and cytokine responses.

scholarly journals Dynamic Changes in Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokine Profiles and Gamma Interferon Receptor Signaling Integrity Correlate with Tuberculosis Disease Activity and Response to Curative Treatment

2006 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 820-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edhyana Sahiratmadja ◽  
Bachti Alisjahbana ◽  
Tjitske de Boer ◽  
Iskandar Adnan ◽  
Anugrah Maya ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Activity ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Mycobacterial Infection ◽  
Gamma Interferon ◽  
Interleukin 12 ◽  
Dynamic Changes ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Anti Inflammatory

ABSTRACT Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and their signaling pathways play key roles in protection from and pathogenesis of mycobacterial infection, and their balance and dynamic changes may control or predict clinical outcome. Peripheral blood cells' capacity to produce proinflammatory (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interleukin-12/23p40 [IL-12/23p40], and gamma interferon [IFN-γ]) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis or unrelated stimuli (lipopolysaccharide, phytohemagglutinin) was studied in 93 pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients and 127 healthy controls from Indonesia. Their cells' ability to respond to IFN-γ was examined to investigate whether M. tuberculosis infection can also inhibit IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γR) signaling. Although there was interindividual variability in the observed responses, the overall results revealed that M. tuberculosis-induced TNF-α and IFN-γ levels showed opposite trends. Whereas TNF-α production was higher in active-TB patients than in controls, IFN-γ production was strongly depressed during active TB, correlated inversely with TB disease severity, and increased during therapy. By contrast, mitogen-induced IFN-γ production, although lower in patients than in controls, did not change during treatment, suggesting an M. tuberculosis-specific and reversible component in the depression of IFN-γ. Depressed IFN-γ production was not due to decreased IL-12/IL-23 production. Importantly, IFN-γ-inducible responses were also significantly depressed during active TB and normalized during treatment, revealing disease activity-related and reversible impairment in IFN-γR signaling in TB. Finally, IFN-γ/IL-10 ratios significantly correlated with TB cure. Taken together, these results show that M. tuberculosis-specific stimulation of IFN-γ (but not TNF-α) production and IFN-γR signaling are significantly depressed in active TB, correlate with TB disease severity and activity, and normalize during microbiological TB cure. The depression of both IFN-γ production and IFN-γR signaling may synergize in contributing to defective host control in active TB.

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