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Updated: Apr 20, 2026

A 3D Human Lung Tissue Model for Functional Studies on Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection
Published on: October 5, 2015
Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in tuberculosis: a two-edged sword in TB pathogenesis
Marilena Paola Etna1, Elena Giacomini1, Martina Severa1
1Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
A major challenge in tuberculosis (TB) is to improve current vaccination and therapeutic strategies and this requires a fine understanding of the mechanisms that mediate protection and pathogenesis. We need to discern how the host perceives Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection, what are the danger signals that activate the immune system and, in turn, how the immune response controls the life-cycle of Mtb. Cytokines, because of their nature of soluble mediators, represent key elements in mediating and tuning these complex processes. In this review, we provide an overview of recent studies on cytokines expression and function in active (mainly human) TB. Understanding of the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory networks is crucial to refine our knowledge on the immune responses directed against Mtb.
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