Immunological recovery in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis after intensive phase treatment

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the change and significance of immune parameters in patients with sputum smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) after 2 months of intensive phase anti-TB treatment.MethodsThe immune parameters of 232 cases of sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB were detected before and after 2 months of intensive phase anti-TB treatment and compared with 50 cases from healthy volunteers (controls). The T lymphocyte cell population in peripheral blood was detected using flow cytometry. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-α were measured by ELISA.ResultsAfter 2 months of intensive phase anti-TB treatment, a reduction in the percentage of CD4+ T cells showed a significant restoration similar to that of controls. Moreover, after intensive anti-TB treatment, serum levels of IL-1β, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-α were significantly decreased compared with before treatment. Additionally, serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 showed a diminished recovery compared with controls.ConclusionsOur findings suggest immunological recovery in patients with pulmonary TB after intensive phase treatment. Therefore, serum cytokine levels are considered potential host biomarkers for monitoring the response of treatment for pulmonary TB.

Using TBAg/PHA Ratio for Monitoring TB Treatment: A Prospective Multicenter Study

“…Differently, we found that the PHA results gradually increased after treatment, especially at 6 months of treatment. This is in accordance with previous studies indicating that host immunity is restored after TB treatment [36][37][38]. The lymphocyte response to PHA stimulation reflects the functional potential of them [39], and the increase of PHA results in T-SPOT assay indicates the restoration of lymphocyte function in TB patients after treatment.…”

Tuberculosis-Associated Anemia: A Narrative Review

“…Therefore, ATT is associated with significant reduction in AI [65]. Lee , and TNF-α were measured with the help of ELISA, and concentration of cytokines was found to be decreased after treatment initiation [68]. As in most of the cases, anemia in TB ranges between mild and moderate forms, and ATT alone helps to resolve anemia.…”

Alveolar Proteinosis Secondary to M. tuberculosis, in a Patient with Transient CD4 Lymphocytopenia Due to Cryptococcus neoformans Infection: First Case in the Literature

“…Some opportunistic infections cause transient CD4+ lymphocytopenia, and their treatment has been related to immune recovery. This transient phenomenon has been described in infections associated with an immune-response mainly mediated by T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytic cells, especially with the CD4+ subset of lymphocytes [ 17 , 18 ]. However, this immune response also requires a cytokine release network activation.…”

“…Kony et al [ 17 ] report that up to 14% of patients with tuberculosis, HIV-negative, and no other immunosuppressive conditions have CD4 counts below 300 cells/mm 3 . Luo et al [ 18 ], demonstrated that treatment directed at this population was associated with an increase in CD4+ lymphocyte count, as well as a decrease in levels of IL-1B, sIL-2R, IL-6 and TNF-a. Similarly, cryptococcal infection has been consistently correlated with CD4+ lymphocytopenia; however, to date, treatment of cryptococcosis has not been reported to improve lymphocyte counts.…”