scholarly journals Functional biomarker signatures of circulating T-cells and its association with distinct clinical status of leprosy patients and their respective household contacts

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Henrique Ferreira Marçal ◽  
Rafael Silva Gama ◽  
Lorena Bruna de Oliveira Pereira ◽  
Olindo Assis Martins Filho ◽  
Roberta Olmo Pinheiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
Ifn Γ

Abstract Background: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease classified into two subgroups for therapeutic purposes: paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB), closely related to the host immune responses. In this context it is noteworthy looking for immunological biomarkers applicable as complementary diagnostic tools as well as a laboratorial strategy to detect subclinical leprosy in household contacts. Methods: The main goal of the present study was to characterize the global cytokine signatures of CD4 + and CD8 + T-cells from leprosy patients with distinct clinical forms and their respective household contacts (HHC) upon in vitro antigen-specific stimuli. Short-term culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was done. After incubation, cells were harvested and prepared for surface and intracytoplasmic cytokine staining Results: The cytokine signature analysis demonstrated that leprosy patients presented a polyfunctional profile of T-cells subsets, with increased frequency of IFN-γ + T-cell subsets along with IL-10 + and IL-4 + from CD4 + T-cells. Moreover, L(PB) displayed a polyfunctional profile characterized by enhanced percentage of IFN-γ + , IL-10 + and IL-4 + produced by most T-cell subsets, as compared to L(MB) that presented a more restricted cytokine functional profile mediated by IL-10 + and IL-4 + T-cells with minor contribution of IFN-γ produced by CD4 + T-cells. Noteworthy was that HHC(MB) exhibited enhanced frequency of IFN-γ + T-cells, contrasting with HHC(PB) that presented a cytokine profile limited to IL-10 and IL-4. Conclusions: Together, our findings provide additional immunological features associated with leprosy and household contacts. These data provide evidence that biomarkers of immune response can be useful complementary diagnostic/prognostic tools as well as insights that household contacts may present subclinical infection. Keywords: leprosy, Mycobacterium leprae , cytokines, household contacts

scholarly journals Functional biomarker signatures of circulating T-cells and its association with distinct clinical status of leprosy patients and their respective household contacts

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Henrique Ferreira Marçal ◽  
Rafael Silva Gama ◽  
Lorena Bruna de Oliveira Pereira ◽  
Olindo Assis Martins Filho ◽  
Roberta Olmo Pinheiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Leprosy Patients

Abstract Background: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease classified into two subgroups for therapeutic purposes: paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB), closely related to the host immune responses. In this context it is noteworthy looking for immunological biomarkers applicable as complementary diagnostic tools as well as a laboratorial strategy to detect subclinical leprosy in household contacts. Methods: The main goal of the present study was to characterize the global cytokine signatures of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells from leprosy patients with distinct clinical forms and their respective household contacts (HHC) upon in vitro antigen-specific stimuli. Short-term culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was done. After incubation, cells were harvested and prepared for surface and intracytoplasmic cytokine staining Results: The cytokine signature analysis demonstrated that leprosy patients presented a polyfunctional profile of T-cells subsets, with increased frequency of IFN-g+ T-cell subsets along with IL-10+ and IL-4+ from CD4+ T-cells. Moreover, L(PB) displayed a polyfunctional profile characterized by enhanced percentage of IFN-g+, IL-10+ and IL-4+ produced by most T-cell subsets, as compared to L(MB) that presented a more restricted cytokine functional profile mediated by IL-10+ and IL-4+ T-cells with minor contribution of IFN-g produced by CD4+ T-cells. Noteworthy was that HHC(MB) exhibited enhanced frequency of IFN-g+ T-cells, contrasting with HHC(PB) that presented a cytokine profile limited to IL-10 and IL-4. Conclusions: Together, our findings provide additional immunological features associated with leprosy and household contacts. These data provide evidence that biomarkers of immune response can be useful complementary diagnostic/prognostic tools as well as insights that household contacts may present subclinical infection.

scholarly journals Functional biomarker signatures of circulating T-cells and its association with distinct clinical status of leprosy patients and their respective household contacts

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Henrique Ferreira Marçal ◽  
Rafael Silva Gama ◽  
Lorena Bruna de Oliveira Pereira ◽  
Olindo Assis Martins Filho ◽  
Roberta Olmo Pinheiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Clinical Status ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Leprosy Patients

Abstract Background: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease classified into two subgroups for therapeutic purposes: paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB), closely related to the host immune responses. In this context it is noteworthy looking for immunological biomarkers applicable as complementary diagnostic tools as well as a laboratorial strategy to follow-up leprosy household contacts. Methods: The main goal of the present study was to characterize the global cytokine signatures of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells from leprosy patients with distinct clinical forms and their respective household contacts (HHC) upon in vitro antigen-specific stimuli. Short-term culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was done. After incubation, cells were harvested and prepared for surface and intracytoplasmic cytokine staining Results: The cytokine signature analysis demonstrated that leprosy patients presented a polyfunctional profile of T-cells subsets, with increased frequency of IFN-g+ T-cell subsets along with IL-10+ and IL-4+ from CD4+ T-cells. Moreover, L(PB) displayed a polyfunctional profile characterized by enhanced percentage of IFN-g+, IL-10+ and IL-4+ produced by most T-cell subsets, as compared to L(MB) that presented a more restricted cytokine functional profile mediated by IL-10+ and IL-4+ T-cells with minor contribution of IFN-g produced by CD4+ T-cells. Noteworthy was that HHC(MB) exhibited enhanced frequency of IFN-g+ T-cells, contrasting with HHC(PB) that presented a cytokine profile limited to IL-10 and IL-4. Conclusions: Together, our findings provide additional immunological features associated with leprosy and household contacts. These data provide evidence that biomarkers of immune response can be useful complementary diagnostic/prognostic tools as well as insights that household contacts should be monitored to access putative subclinical infection.

scholarly journals Functional biomarker signatures of circulating T-cells and its association with distinct clinical status of leprosy patients and their respective household contacts

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Henrique Ferreira Marçal ◽  
Rafael Silva Gama ◽  
Lorena Bruna Pereira de Oliveira ◽  
Olindo Assis Martins-Filho ◽  
Roberta Olmo Pinheiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Multiple Comparisons ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Venn Diagram ◽  
Signature Analysis ◽  
Functional Profile ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Leprosy Patients ◽  
Ifn Γ

Abstract Background Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease classified into two subgroups for therapeutic purposes: paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB), closely related to the host immune responses. In this context it is noteworthy looking for immunological biomarkers applicable as complementary diagnostic tools as well as a laboratorial strategy to follow-up leprosy household contacts. Methods The cross-sectional study enrolled 49 participants, including 19 patients and 30 healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated and incubated in the presence of Mycobacterium leprae bacilli. The cells were prepared for surface (CD4+ and CD8+) and intracytoplasmic cytokine staining (IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10). Multiple comparisons amongst groups were carried out by ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis, Student T or Mann–Whitney test. Comparative analysis of categorical variables was performed by Chi-square. Functional biomarker signature analysis was conducted using the global median values for each biomarker index as the cut-off edge to identify the proportion of subjects with high biomarker levels. Results The cytokine signature analysis demonstrated that leprosy patients presented a polyfunctional profile of T-cells subsets, with increased frequency of IFN-γ+ T-cell subsets along with IL-10+ and IL-4+ from CD4+ T-cells, as compared to health Controls (Venn diagram report). Moreover, statistical analysis was carried out using parametric or non-parametric variance analysis followed by pairwise multiple comparisons, according to the data normality distribution. L(PB) displayed a polyfunctional profile characterized by enhanced percentage of IFN-γ+, IL-10+ and IL-4+ produced by most T-cell subsets, as compared to L(MB) that presented a more restricted cytokine functional profile mediated by IL-10+ and IL-4+ T-cells with minor contribution of IFN-γ produced by CD4+ T-cells. Noteworthy was that HHC(MB) exhibited enhanced frequency of IFN-γ+ T-cells, contrasting with HHC(PB) that presented a cytokine profile limited to IL-10 and IL-4. Conclusions Our data demonstrated that L(PB) displayed enhanced percentage of IFN-γ+, IL-10+ and IL-4+ as compared to L(MB) that presented functional profile mediated by IL-10+ and IL-4+ T-cells and HHC(MB) exhibited enhanced frequency of IFN-γ+ T-cells, contrasting with HHC(PB). Together, our findings provide additional immunological features associated with leprosy and household contacts. These data provide evidence that biomarkers of immune response can be useful complementary diagnostic/prognostic tools as well as insights that household contacts should be monitored to access putative subclinical infection.

scholarly journals CRTAM determines the CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte lineage

2015 ◽  
Vol 213 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arata Takeuchi ◽  
Mohamed El Sherif Gadelhaq Badr ◽  
Kosuke Miyauchi ◽  
Chitose Ishihara ◽  
Reiko Onishi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cytotoxic Activity ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Naive T Cells ◽  
Naïve T Cells ◽  
Ifn Γ

Naive T cells differentiate into various effector T cells, including CD4+ helper T cell subsets and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTL). Although cytotoxic CD4+ T cells (CD4+CTL) also develop from naive T cells, the mechanism of development is elusive. We found that a small fraction of CD4+ T cells that express class I–restricted T cell–associated molecule (CRTAM) upon activation possesses the characteristics of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. CRTAM+ CD4+ T cells secrete IFN-γ, express CTL-related genes, such as eomesodermin (Eomes), Granzyme B, and perforin, after cultivation, and exhibit cytotoxic function, suggesting that CRTAM+ T cells are the precursor of CD4+CTL. Indeed, ectopic expression of CRTAM in T cells induced the production of IFN-γ, expression of CTL-related genes, and cytotoxic activity. The induction of CD4+CTL and IFN-γ production requires CRTAM-mediated intracellular signaling. CRTAM+ T cells traffic to mucosal tissues and inflammatory sites and developed into CD4+CTL, which are involved in mediating protection against infection as well as inducing inflammatory response, depending on the circumstances, through IFN-γ secretion and cytotoxic activity. These results reveal that CRTAM is critical to instruct the differentiation of CD4+CTL through the induction of Eomes and CTL-related gene.

scholarly journals Increased state of activation of CD4 positive T cells and elevated interferon γ production in pouchitis

Gut ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Stallmach ◽  
F Schäfer ◽  
S Hoffmann ◽  
S Weber ◽  
I Müller-Molaian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
T Cell Activation ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Interferon Γ ◽  
Ileoanal Pouch ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Activation Markers ◽  
Ifn Γ

Background—Immunoregulatory abnormalities of T cells might be of importance in the pathogenesis of pouchitis after ileoanal pouch anastomosis (IAP).Aims—To characterise T cell subsets, their state of activation, and production of cytokines in inflamed and non-inflamed pouches in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). The influence of T cell activation on mucosal transformation was also studied.Patients—Mucosal biopsy specimens were taken from 42 patients with IAP (33 with UC and nine with FAP).Methods—Mononuclear cells were isolated by standard techniques and characterised by three colour flow cytometry. Interferon γ (IFN-γ) production was studied using the ELISPOT technique.Results—In patients with UC with pouchitis there was a significant increase in the CD4:CD8 ratio, expression of activation markers on CD3+ cells, and number of IFNγ producing mononuclear cells compared with patients with UC without pouchitis (CD4:CD8 ratio 1.3 (range 0.7–2.7) versus 0.6 (0.1–1.0), p=0.012). In addition, a positive correlation between increased crypt depth and the number of CD4+ cells (r=0.57) was shown.Conclusion—The observed increase in activated mucosal CD4+ T cells and IFN-γ production might lead to mucosal destruction and crypt hyperplasia as seen in pouchitis.

scholarly journals Protein Energy Malnutrition during Vaccination Has Limited Influence on Vaccine Efficacy but Abolishes Immunity if Administered during Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 2118-2126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Truc Hoang ◽  
Else Marie Agger ◽  
Joseph P. Cassidy ◽  
Jan P. Christensen ◽  
Peter Andersen
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Protein Energy Malnutrition ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Protein Energy ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

Protein energy malnutrition (PEM) increases susceptibility to infectious diseases, including tuberculosis (TB), but it is not clear how PEM influences vaccine-promoted immunity to TB. We demonstrate that PEM during low-level steady-state TB infection in a mouse model results in rapid relapse ofMycobacterium tuberculosis, as well as increased pathology, in bothMycobacterium bovisBCG-vaccinated and unvaccinated animals. PEM did not change the overall numbers of CD4 T cells in BCG-vaccinated animals but resulted in an almost complete loss of antigen-specific cytokine production. Furthermore, there was a change in cytokine expression characterized by a gradual loss of multifunctional antigen-specific CD4 T cells and an increased proportion of effector cells expressing gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha (IFN-γ+TNF-α+and IFN-γ+cells). PEM duringM. tuberculosisinfection completely blocked the protection afforded by the H56-CAF01 subunit vaccine, and this was associated with a very substantial loss of the interleukin-2-positive memory CD4 T cells promoted by this vaccine. Similarly, PEM during the vaccination phase markedly reduced the H56-CAF01 vaccine response, influencing all cytokine-producing CD4 T cell subsets, with the exception of CD4 T cells positive for TNF-α only. Importantly, this impairment was reversible and resupplementation of protein during infection rescued both the vaccine-promoted T cell response and the protective effect of the vaccine againstM. tuberculosisinfection.

scholarly journals The Role of β-Catenin in Th1 Immune Response against Tuberculosis and Profiles of Expression in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Kunlong Xiong ◽  
Jinxia Niu ◽  
Ruijuan Zheng ◽  
Zhonghua Liu ◽  
Yanzheng Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Cd8 T Cells ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Cd4 T Cell ◽  
Cell Frequency ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Ifn Γ

β-Catenin is a key molecule of canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Its roles and expression profiles in T cells of tuberculosis (TB) remain unclear. The aim of this study was to explore the role of β-catenin in CD4+ T cells and its expression characteristics in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). In this study, CD4+ T cell-specific β-catenin conditional knockout mice (β-CAT-cKO mice) were aerosol infected with Mycobacteria tuberculosis (Mtb) H37RV with wild-type mice as controls. Four weeks after infection, the mRNA expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and TCF-7 in the lungs of mice was measured. CD4, CD8, β-catenin, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in mononuclear cells from the lungs and spleens were measured by flow cytometry, and the pathological changes of lungs were also observed. Patients with PTB were enrolled, with blood samples collected and PBMCs isolated. The expressions of β-catenin, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and PD-1 in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were measured by flow cytometry. Results showed a decreased frequency of and reduced IFN-γ/TNF-α mRNA expression and secretion by CD4+ T cells in the lungs of infected β-CAT-cKO mice compared with infected wild-type controls, and only slightly more inflammatory changes were observed in the lungs. β-catenin expressions in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were significantly decreased in blood cells of patients with severe PTB compared with those in mild PTB. The stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with lithium chloride (LiCl), a stimulant of β-catenin, resulted in the increase in CD4+ T cell frequency, as well as their secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α. β-Catenin demonstrated a moderately positive correlation with PD-1 in CD4+ T cells. β-Catenin along with PD-1 and IFN-γ in CD4+ T cells had a high correlation with those in CD8+ T cells. In conclusion, β-catenin may be involved in the regulation of Th1 response and CD4+ T cell frequency in TB.

scholarly journals Interplay between IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-17A and PD-1 Expressing EBNA1-Specific CD4+ and CD8+ T Cell Responses in the Etiologic Pathway to Endemic Burkitt Lymphoma

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 5375
Author(s):  
Catherine S. Forconi ◽  
David H. Mulama ◽  
Priya Saikumar Lakshmi ◽  
Joslyn Foley ◽  
Juliana A. Otieno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Burkitt Lymphoma ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Cd8 T Cell ◽  
T Cell Response ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Effector Memory ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Ifn Γ

Children diagnosed with endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL) are deficient in interferon-γ (IFN-γ) responses to Epstein–Barr Nuclear Antigen1 (EBNA1), the viral protein that defines the latency I pattern in this B cell tumor. However, the contributions of immune-regulatory cytokines and phenotypes of the EBNA1-specific T cells have not been characterized for eBL. Using a bespoke flow cytometry assay we measured intracellular IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-17A expression and phenotyped CD4+ and CD8+ T cell effector memory subsets specific to EBNA1 for eBL patients compared to two groups of healthy children with divergent malaria exposures. In response to EBNA1 and a malaria antigen (PfSEA-1A), the three study groups exhibited strikingly different cytokine expression and T cell memory profiles. EBNA1-specific IFN-γ-producing CD4+ T cell response rates were lowest in eBL (40%) compared to children with high malaria (84%) and low malaria (66%) exposures (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0004, respectively). However, eBL patients did not differ in CD8+ T cell response rates or the magnitude of IFN-γ expression. In contrast, eBL children were more likely to have EBNA1-specific CD4+ T cells expressing IL-10, and less likely to have polyfunctional IFN-γ+IL-10+ CD4+ T cells (p = 0.02). They were also more likely to have IFN-γ+IL-17A+, IFN-γ+ and IL-17A+ CD8+ T cell subsets compared to healthy children. Cytokine-producing T cell subsets were predominantly CD45RA+CCR7+ TNAIVE-LIKE cells, yet PD-1, a marker of persistent activation/exhaustion, was more highly expressed by the central memory (TCM) and effector memory (TEM) T cell subsets. In summary, our study suggests that IL-10 mediated immune regulation and depletion of IFN-γ+ EBNA1-specific CD4+ T cells are complementary mechanisms that contribute to impaired T cell cytotoxicity in eBL pathogenesis.

scholarly journals From Genome-Based In Silico Predictions to Ex Vivo Verification of Leprosy Diagnosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annemieke Geluk ◽  
John S. Spencer ◽  
Kidist Bobosha ◽  
Maria C. V. Pessolani ◽  
Geraldo M. B. Pereira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Immunoglobulin M ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Household Contacts ◽  
Diagnostic Potential ◽  
Human T Cell ◽  
Leprosy Patients

ABSTRACT The detection of hundreds of thousands of new cases of leprosy every year suggests that transmission of Mycobacterium leprae infection still continues. Unfortunately, tools for identification of asymptomatic disease and/or early-stage M. leprae infection (likely sources of transmission) are lacking. The recent identification of M. leprae-unique genes has allowed the analysis of human T-cell responses to novel M. leprae antigens. Antigens with the most-promising diagnostic potential were tested for their ability to induce cytokine secretion by using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from leprosy patients and controls in five different areas where leprosy is endemic; 246 individuals from Brazil, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Ethiopia were analyzed for gamma interferon responses to five recombinant proteins (ML1989, ML1990, ML2283, ML2346, and ML2567) and 22 synthetic peptides. Of these, the M. leprae-unique protein ML1989 was the most frequently recognized and ML2283 the most specific for M. leprae infection/exposure, as only a limited number of tuberculosis patients responded to this antigen. However, all proteins were recognized by a significant number of controls in areas of endemicity. T-cell responses correlated with in vitro response to M. leprae, suggesting that healthy controls in areas where leprosy is endemic are exposed to M. leprae. Importantly, 50% of the healthy household contacts and 59% of the controls in areas of endemicity had no detectable immunoglobulin M antibodies to M. leprae-specific PGL-I but responded in T-cell assays to ≥1 M. leprae protein. T-cell responses specific for leprosy patients and healthy household contacts were observed for ML2283- and ML0126-derived peptides, indicating that M. leprae peptides hold potential as diagnostic tools. Future work should concentrate on the development of a sensitive and field-friendly assay and identification of additional peptides and proteins that can induce M. leprae-specific T-cell responses.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Circulating CD4+ T Cell Subsets in Patients with Mycobacterium avium Complex Pulmonary Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1331
Author(s):  
Sun Ae Han ◽  
Yousang Ko ◽  
Sung Jae Shin ◽  
Byung Woo Jhun
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Pulmonary Disease ◽  
Mycobacterium Avium ◽  
Cd4 T Cells ◽  
Mycobacterium Avium Complex ◽  
Mononuclear Cells ◽  
Flow Cytometric Analysis ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay

Although prevalence of Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) is increasing, limited data are available regarding vulnerability to Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infections. To understand the pathobiology of interaction between MAC and host-immunity, it is important to understand the characteristics for circulating T cells in terms of the immunological phenotype and functional correlates in MAC-PD. We aimed to characterize immunophenotype, cytokine profile, and immune inhibitory receptors of circulating CD4+ T cells in MAC-PD patients. We enrolled 71 MAC-PD and 20 control individuals. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to determine T cell subsets and immune checkpoint markers. Ex vivo cytokine productions in response to MAC were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The frequencies of CD4+ T cells and CD4+IL-17+ T cells decreased, while CD4+IL-4+ T cells and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of MAC-PD individuals upon MAC stimulation compared with those cells in healthy donor-PBMCs. Additionally, we found increased PD-1, CTLA-4, and TIM-3-expressing T cells in MAC- PD individuals in response to MAC-stimulation, indicating that suppressed T cell-mediated response is associated with the susceptibility to MAC infection. These results may help to explain impaired T cell-mediated responses and pave the way for better strategies to achieve protective immunity against MAC infection.

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