Open AccessApoptosis of Th1‐like cells in experimental tuberculosis (TB)
Author(s) -
DAS G.,
VOHRA H.,
SAHA B.,
AGREWALA J. N.,
MISHRA G. C.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1999.00755.x
Subject(s) - mycobacterium tuberculosis , tuberculosis , immunology , immune system , apoptosis , biology , immunity , interferon gamma , in vitro , interferon , t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , pathology , genetics
Th1 cell‐induced anti‐mycobacterial immunity is lost during a progressive Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a susceptible host. This study was designed to test the mechanism of the loss of anti‐mycobacterial cell‐mediated immune response. We demonstrate that M. tuberculosis infection results in increased Fas expression and decreased Bcl‐2 expression in CD4 + T cells. When CD4 + T cells are stimulated in vitro, they show increased apoptosis and decreased production of IL‐2 and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ) but not of IL‐4. These changes may result in selective apoptosis of Th1‐like cells, leading to the loss of cell‐mediated immune response against M. tuberculosis .