Related Experiment Videos
Natural killer cell activity in multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis
P Yildiz1, F Kadakal, Y Tütüncü
1Yedikule Hospital of Chest Disease, Istanbul, Turkey. pinary70@hotmail.com
Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases
|January 12, 2002
Summary
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) is linked to reduced natural killer cell activity (NKA) in HIV-negative patients. Impaired NK cell function may play a role in MDRTB development.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB) poses a significant global health challenge, particularly in developing nations.
- While mycobacterial resistance mechanisms are well-studied, the host's immune response in MDRTB pathogenesis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate natural killer cell activity (NKA) and T lymphocyte subsets in HIV-negative patients with secondary MDRTB.
- To compare immune parameters between MDRTB patients, nonresistant tuberculosis (NRTB) patients, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Flow-cytometric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to determine percentages of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD25+, CD11b+, and CD16+56+ cells.
- Evaluation of NKA using the anticandidal index method.
- Inclusion of 20 MDRTB patients, 15 NRTB patients, and 12 healthy male controls.
Main Results:
- MDRTB patients exhibited significantly lower percentages of CD3+ and CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes compared to NRTB patients.
- Natural killer cell activity (NKA) was significantly reduced in MDRTB patients compared to both NRTB patients and healthy controls.
- No significant correlation was found between tuberculin response and PBL subsets or NKA.
Conclusions:
- Reduced NKA in HIV-negative MDRTB patients suggests a potential role for impaired NK cell function in the disease's pathogenesis.
- These findings highlight the importance of cellular immune responses, specifically NK cell activity, in controlling MDRTB.