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Specific Lymphoproliferation, Gamma Interferon Production, and Serum Immunoglobulin G Directed against a Purified 32 kDa Mycobacterial Protein Antigen (P32) in Patients with Active Tuberculosis
Author(s) -
HUYGEN K.,
VOOREN J.P.,
TURNEER M.,
BOSMANS R.,
DIERCKX P.,
BRUYN J.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.1988.tb02338.x
Subject(s) - phytohaemagglutinin , tuberculin , antigen , immunology , antibody , tuberculosis , medicine , interferon gamma , mycobacterium tuberculosis , mycobacterium bovis , immune system , pathology
Twenty‐one patients treated for active tuberculosis were examined for immune reactivity to purified protein derivative (PPD) and to a purified 32‐kDa protein antigen (P32) from Mycobacterium bovis , strain BCG. Lymphoproliferation of peripheral blood leucocytes to PPD and P32 was positive in 95% and 71% of the patients respectively. A positive IFN‐γ response was detected in 62% against PPD and in 48% against P32. Low blastogenesis and IFN‐γ production were observed, especially in patients with poor general health and advanced tuberculous lesions. Twelve out of twelve (100%) of the tuberculin‐positive healthy volunteers responded to PPD and P32 with mean lymphoproliferation and IFN‐γ values that were higher than in the patient group. Twelve tuberculin‐negative control subjects were completely unreactive to PPD and P32 antigen. On the other hand, IgG antibodies in the serum were detected in 95% of the patients against PPD, in 77% of the patients against P32 but in none of the tuberculin‐positive or negative healthy volunteers. The highest IgG levels against PPD were found in those patients with the lowest in vitro lymphoproliferation and IFN‐γ production (r=‐0.54; P <0.05). Nonspecific interferon production following induction with Newcastle disease virus, Corynebacterium parvum , or phytohaemagglutinin was comparable in the control and patient groups. Finally, low IFN‐α titres were detected in the serum of about 50% of the patients.