In vivo platelet and T-lymphocyte activities during pulmonary tuberculosis

Platelets have been suggested to play a role in the inflammatory response, including defence against bacteria. The aims of this study were to determine in vivo platelet activity during the clinical course of pulmonary tuberculosis and to investigate whether or not there is a correlation between the magnitude of platelet activation and the extent of the pulmonary disease. T-lymphocyte activity was also analysed in the patients. Platelet factor-4 (PF4) and soluble interleukin-2 receptor-alpha (sIL-2Ralpha) concentrations were used as markers of platelet and T-lymphocyte activation, respectively. Twenty-five patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were studied. Fifteen healthy subjects served as a control group. The levels of both sIL-2Ralpha (3,000+/-1,948 pg x mL(-1)) and PF4 (103.1+/-6.7 IU x mL(-1)) were significantly higher in the patients with tuberculosis than in the control group (984+/-360 pg x mL(-1) and 78.2+/-23.9 IU x mL(-1), respectively) (Mann-Whitney U-test, p<0.001 for both comparisons). The plasma PF4 levels were found to be well correlated with the extent of pulmonary lesions on chest radiography (the Spearman's bivariate correlation analysis, r=0.65, p<0.001). However, sIL-2Ralpha concentrations did not correlate with the extent of disease. In conclusion, it has been suggested that platelet and T-lymphocyte activation occurs during pulmonary tuberculosis. The good correlation between platelet activation and the extent of pulmonary tuberculosis might be ascribed to a pathophysiological role of platelets in pulmonary tuberculosis.