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Isolation and Activation of Murine Lymphocytes
08:08

Isolation and Activation of Murine Lymphocytes

Published on: October 30, 2016

Memory lymphocytes from tuberculous effusions: purified protein derivative (PPD) stimulates accelerated activation

P T Lukey1, S E Latouf, S R Ress

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Republic of South Africa.

Clinical and Experimental Immunology
|June 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Tuberculosis effusions contain memory T cells in a post-activation state, leading to accelerated immune responses. This explains the faster PPD reactivity observed in these cells compared to peripheral blood.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Previous studies reported accelerated PPD-specific proliferation and CD4+ cytotoxic effector generation by mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) from tuberculous effusions (EMNL).
  • The contribution of MNL activation state to this accelerated reactivity requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of MNL activation state in accelerated immune responses in tuberculosis.
  • To compare the activation status and cell cycle progression of EMNL and peripheral blood MNL (PBMNL) ex vivo and after PPD stimulation.

Main Methods:

  • Flow cytometry was used to assess MNL activation markers (IL-2 receptor, HLA-DR), cell cycle progression, and T cell subsets (CD4+ CD29+ memory T cells).
  • EMNL and PBMNL from seven tuberculosis patients were analyzed ex vivo and after in vitro PPD stimulation.

Main Results:

  • Ex vivo, no differences in activation state or cell cycle progression were observed between EMNL and PBMNL.
  • EMNL showed an accumulation of CD4+ CD29+ memory T cells compared to PBMNL.
  • PPD stimulation led to accelerated expression of activation markers and cell cycle progression in EMNL (peak at 4 days) versus PBMNL (peak at 7 days).
  • Accelerated reactivity was linked to a qualitative difference, with effusion memory T cells in a post-activation state, not quantitative differences.

Conclusions:

  • Effusion CD4+ CD29+ memory T cells are in a post-activation state of differentiation, contributing to accelerated PPD reactivity.
  • Accelerated immune responses in tuberculous effusions are associated with activated memory T cells in a post-activation state.
  • This qualitative difference in memory T cells may account for the enhanced PPD reactivity observed in tuberculous effusions.

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