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Local Pulmonary Immunological Biomarkers in Tuberculosis
Hazel Morrison1, Helen McShane1
1The Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Frontiers in Immunology
|March 22, 2021
Summary
Pulmonary biomarkers offer a clearer view of tuberculosis (TB) immune responses than blood tests. Understanding these localized markers is crucial for developing effective TB vaccines and treatments.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) primarily affects the lungs, with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) entering via the respiratory tract.
- Pulmonary immunological biomarkers may offer more accurate insights into M.tb infection and disease activity than peripheral samples.
- Localized immune responses, including tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM), are critical for mycobacterial defense.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of pulmonary-specific immunological biomarkers for tuberculosis.
- To discuss the potential applications of these biomarkers in TB vaccine development and research.
- To highlight research needs for utilizing pulmonary biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing human and animal studies on immune responses to M.tb.
- Analysis of biomarker localization in respiratory versus peripheral samples.
- Discussion of methods for assessing pulmonary immune responses, such as bronchoalveolar lavage and tissue biopsies.
Main Results:
- Immune responses to M.tb are often highly localized to the respiratory tract.
- Peripheral blood biomarkers may not fully capture the local pulmonary immune status.
- Non-circulating TRM cells in the lungs are vital for defense against M.tb.
Conclusions:
- Pulmonary biomarkers are essential for understanding TB pathogenesis and immune responses.
- Developing effective TB vaccines requires assessing correlates of protection (COPs) in the respiratory compartment.
- Further research into pulmonary biomarkers is needed to advance TB control strategies.
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