Open AccessDiminished plasma levels of common γ-chain cytokines in pulmonary tuberculosis and reversal following treatment
Author(s) -
Nathella Pavan Kumar,
Vaithilingam V. Banurekha,
Diir,
Subash Babu
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0176495
Subject(s) - immunology , medicine , immune system , tuberculosis , cd8 , disease , proinflammatory cytokine , t cell , antigen , interleukin 10 , cytokine , interleukin , inflammation , pathology
Background The immune response to tuberculosis (TB) is T cell dependent. T cells are the major facilitators of protection and effector functions with CD4 + T cells being the most important players, followed by CD8 + T cells. The common γ-chain cytokines IL-2, IL-7, IL-15, and IL-21 play a vital role in peripheral T cell growth and survival. However, the role of common γ-chain cytokines in pulmonary TB (PTB) is poorly understood. Aim and methods To examine the association of circulating common γ-chain cytokines with TB disease or infection, we examined the systemic levels of IL-2, IL-7, IL-15, and IL-21 in individuals with PTB, latent TB (LTB) or no TB infection (NTB). We also examined the levels of these cytokines in PTB individuals before and after anti-tuberculosis treatment. Results Circulating levels of IL-2, IL-7 and IL-21 were significantly diminished in PTB compared to LTB or NTB individuals. Moreover, TB antigen stimulated whole blood also exhibited diminished levels of common γ-chain cytokines in PTB compared to LTB or NTB individuals. The plasma levels of common γ-chain cytokines exhibited no significant association with the severity or extent of TB disease or with bacterial burdens. However, upon standard anti-TB treatment, both the systemic as well as the TB antigen stimulated levels of IL-2, IL-7 and IL-21 were significantly increased in PTB individuals. Conclusion Therefore our data demonstrate that diminished levels of common γ-chain cytokines are a common characteristic of PTB and potentially highlight the importance of boosting these responses to improve treatment outcomes.