Profiling dendritic cell subsets in the patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• Hematology

Background:

• Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial for immune responses, including against tuberculosis.
• The precise role and phenotype of peripheral blood DC subsets in active pulmonary tuberculosis (APT) remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the phenotypic profile of DC subsets in the peripheral blood of individuals with APT.
• To determine if DC subsets can serve as diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers for APT.

Main Methods:

• Flow cytometry analysis of total DCs (tDC), myeloid DCs (mDC), and plasmacytoid DCs (pDC) in peripheral blood.
• Assessment of DC subset expression of CD83, CCR7, HLA-DR, and CD80, and CD86.
• Evaluation of antigen uptake capacity of DC subsets.

Main Results:

• Absolute numbers of tDC, mDC, and pDC were significantly decreased in APT patients compared to healthy controls (HCs).
• Relapsed APT patients showed higher tDC and lower pDC counts than newly diagnosed patients.
• APT DCs exhibited altered expression of CD83, CCR7, HLA-DR, CD80, and CD86, with no difference in antigen uptake capacity.

Conclusions:

• Decreased DC numbers, especially pDCs, may be a valuable diagnostic marker for APT.
• DC subset profiles correlate with disease severity, treatment response, and lymphocyte immune reactions.
• These findings provide a systematic profile of DC subsets in APT, highlighting their potential as biomarkers.