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Updated: Jun 9, 2026
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A 3D Human Lung Tissue Model for Functional Studies on Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection
Published on: October 5, 2015
Pleural fluid cytokines correlate with tissue inflammatory expression in tuberculosis
M Seiscento1, F S Vargas, M M P Acencio
1Laboratory of Pleura, Pulmonary Division, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
Summary
This study found higher levels of key inflammatory markers, including interleukin-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor, in the pleural fluid of tuberculosis patients. These findings suggest a temporary inflammatory response in the pleural space during tuberculosis infection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pulmonology
- Pathology
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis often involves analyzing pleural fluid.
- Understanding the inflammatory markers in pleural fluid can aid in diagnosis and understanding disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) in pleural fluid of TB patients.
- To correlate these cytokine levels with histopathological patterns observed in pleural biopsies.
Main Methods:
- Cytokines were measured in pleural fluid from TB patients (n=39) and heart failure patients (n=8).
- Histopathological patterns in pleural biopsies from TB patients were analyzed using morphometric analysis (stereological point-counting method).
Main Results:
- Pleural fluid levels of IL-8, TNF-alpha, VEGF, and TGF-beta(1) were significantly higher in TB patients compared to heart failure patients.
- A positive correlation was observed between pleural fluid IL-8 and VEGF levels and the fibrinoid exudative phase components in pleural biopsies.
- Conversely, a negative correlation was found between pleural fluid IL-8 and VEGF levels and tissue components of fibroproliferation.
Conclusions:
- Elevated pleural levels of TNF-alpha, IL-8, VEGF, and TGF-beta(1) indicate their involvement in the immunological response to TB.
- The correlations suggest that IL-8 and VEGF play a role in the acute exudative phase and are inversely related to the fibroproliferative phase of pleural inflammation in TB.
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