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Updated: Aug 10, 2026
Enzyme-linked Immunospot Assay (ELISPOT): Quantification of Th-1 Cellular Immune Responses Against Microbial Antigens
Published on: November 24, 2010
[Immunological approach to the evaluation of the activity of the tuberculous process]
1Kliniki Pneumonologii i Alergologii IMW AM, Lodzi.
Insights
Active tuberculosis patients show weakened cellular immunity and heightened humoral immunity. Individuals with inactive lung changes fall between active patients and healthy subjects regarding immune markers.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Context:
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health challenge.
- Understanding immune responses is crucial for diagnosing and managing active TB.
- Immune profiles can differentiate between active disease, inactive disease, and healthy states.
Purpose:
- To identify immunological criteria distinguishing active pulmonary tuberculosis.
- To assess cellular and humoral immunity in patients with active TB, inactive lung changes, and healthy individuals.
Summary:
- Patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis exhibited depressed cellular immunity, including reduced T-lymphocyte percentage and function, alongside cutaneous anergy to tuberculin.
- Conversely, humoral immunity was found to be enhanced in active TB patients.
- Individuals with inactive minimal lung changes displayed intermediate immunological profiles between active TB patients and healthy subjects.
Impact:
- This study provides key immunological markers for assessing tuberculosis activity.
- Findings can aid in differentiating active disease from latent or resolved infections.
- Highlights the distinct immune dysregulation in active tuberculosis, informing potential therapeutic targets.
Abstract:
The aim of the study was to determine the immunological criteria of the activity of the lung tuberculosis. Some immunological tests based on cellular and humoral immunity were assessed in 3 groups: I--patients with active, bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis, II--individuals with inactive minimal changes in the lung, III--healthy subjects. We found that among patients with active tuberculosis cellular immunity was depressed: both percentage of T-lymphocytes and their function, usually associated with cutaneous anergy to tuberculin. But the humoral immunity was enhanced. The authors have shown that the people with inactive minimal changes in the lung take place between the patients with active tuberculosis and healthy subjects.
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