[The functional activity of class-I and -II HLA antigens in pulmonary tuberculosis]

The paper presents evaluation of HLA-system functional activity in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchial asthma by expression of class I and II antigens and beta2-microglobulin level in peripheral blood cell elements. Tuberculous patients had reduced production of beta2-microglobulin in the cell elements. Long-term chemotherapy aggravated the above abnormality. A correlation was found between changes in the cell elements expressing HLA antigens class I and II and tuberculosis course. Lowered lymphocyte count expressing HLA antigens class I and II occurs in progression of tuberculosis and is associated with marked depression of T-cell immunity.