Premium
Increased expression of mRNA encoding interleukin (IL)‐4 and its splice variant IL‐4δ2 in cells from contacts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis , in the absence of in vitro stimulation
Author(s) -
Fletcher Helen A.,
Owiafe Patrick,
Jeffries David,
Hill Philip,
Rook Graham A. W.,
Zumla Alimuddin,
Doherty T. Mark,
Brookes Roger H.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2004.01922.x
Subject(s) - peripheral blood mononuclear cell , mycobacterium tuberculosis , immunology , tuberculosis , interferon , biology , antigen , interleukin , interleukin 12 , messenger rna , interleukin 4 , interferon gamma , in vitro , cytokine , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , gene , cytotoxic t cell , pathology , genetics
Summary Expression of interleukin (IL)‐4 is increased in tuberculosis and thought to be detrimental. We show here that in healthy contacts there is increased expression of its naturally occurring antagonist, IL‐4delta2 (IL‐4δ2). We identified contacts by showing that their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) released interferon (IFN)‐γ in response to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis ‐specific antigen 6 kDa early secretory antigenic target (ESAT‐6). Fresh unstimulated PBMC from these contacts contained higher levels of mRNA encoding IL‐4δ2 ( P =0·002) than did cells from ESAT‐6 negative donors (noncontacts). These data indicate that contact with M. tuberculosis induces unusual, previously unrecognized, immunological events. We tentatively hypothesize that progression to active disease might depend upon the underlying ratio of IL‐4 to IL‐4δ2.