High-throughput analysis of T cell–monocyte interaction in human tuberculosis

Abstract

Summary The lack of efficient tools for identifying immunological correlates of tuberculosis (TB) protection or risk of disease progression impedes the development of improved control strategies. To more clearly understand the host response in TB, we recently established an imaging flow cytometer‐based in‐vitro assay, which assesses multiple aspects of T cell–monocyte interaction. Here, we extended our previous work and characterized communication between T cells and monocytes using clinical samples from individuals with different TB infection status and healthy controls from a TB endemic setting. To identify T cell–monocyte conjugates, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were stimulated with ds‐Red‐expressing Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette–Guérin or 6‐kDa early secreted antigenic target (ESAT 6) peptides for 6 h, and analyzed by imaging flow cytometer (IFC). We then enumerated T cell–monocyte conjugates using polarization of T cell receptor (TCR) and F‐actin as markers for synapse formation, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) nuclear translocation in the T cells. We observed a reduced frequency of T cell–monocyte conjugates in cells from patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (pTB) compared to latent TB‐infected (LTBI) and healthy controls. When we monitored NF‐κB nuclear translocation in T cells interacting with monocytes, the proportion of responding cells was significantly higher in active pTB compared with LTBI and controls. Overall, these data underscore the need to consider multiple immunological parameters against TB, where IFC could be a valuable tool.

Immune status changing helps diagnose osteoarticular tuberculosis

“…The assumption is further confirmed by the analysis of the clinical data. It had been proved that the cell counts and frequency of monocytes and lymphocytes were significantly different between TB disease and HCs [ 24 ], which were consistent with our results. Lymphocytes are thought to be the primary effector cells in TB immunity, while myeloid cells as the primary host cell for infection.…”

Single-cell sequencing of immune cells after marathon and symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise

“…Evidence showed more active interactions between T cell and monocyte presented in human tuberculosis. 45 According to previous studies, human blood monocytes can be subdivided into 3 subsets: classical CD14++CD16 − monocytes, intermediate CD14++CD16 + monocytes, and nonclassical CD14 + CD16++ monocytes. 46 A recent study reported that the nonclassical CD14 + inflammatory monocytes dominated and incited the inflammatory storm in COVID-19.…”

Presence of PD-1 similarity genes in monocytes may promote the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus and poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer

“…Monocytes are known to interact with T cells to perform functions, such as in tuberculosis disease. 50 However, there is limited research on whether monocytes are also involved in the development of T1DM, pancreatic cancer and ICI-induced fulminant T1DM through the PD-1 pathway. Here, we investigated whether monocytes would play a similar role to T cells and sought to identify the genes involved.…”