T cells in mycobacterial infection and disease

Curr Opin Immunol. 2009 Aug;21(4):378-84. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2009.06.004. Epub 2009 Jul 29.

Abstract

There has been an increase in our understanding of the complexity of the T cell response to mycobacterial infection recently. Improved tools have allowed the determination of the location and kinetics of naïve T cell activation in the mouse as well the variety of function of mycobacteria-specific cells in humans. There is also an increased appreciation of the balance required during mycobacterial infection between anti-bacterial activity and control of the immunopathologic response. The integration of the T cell functional data with the consequences of infection should improve rational vaccine design.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Humans
  • Lung / immunology
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / growth & development
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / pathogenicity
  • Phagocytes / immunology*
  • Phagocytes / microbiology
  • Phagocytes / pathology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / microbiology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / microbiology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / pathology
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / immunology*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / pathology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / therapy
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Tuberculosis Vaccines