PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sumanlatha Gaddam
AU  - Lavanya Joshi
AU  - Hari Sai Priya Vanacherla
AU  - Anuradha Bandaru
AU  - Vijayalakshmi Valluri
TI  - Late-breaking abstract: Expression of IFN-g/IL-10 in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients and household contacts
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p4380
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4380.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4380.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - There is an increase in the prevalence of tuberculosis in young adults. Since,cytokine mediated immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection are important determinants of disease development and pathology, the aim was to investigate the role of candidate cytokines in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients (APTB) of younger age (15to25yrs) & their HouseHold Contacts (HHC). T cell assays were stimulated with r32-kDa antigen of M.bovis BCG (Ag85A-BCG), IFN-g & IL-10 were measured in the culture supernatants by ELISA in APTB (15), HHC (PPD-positive) (15) & Healthy Controls (HC) (PPD status not known) (15). Expression levels were determined by quantitative real time-PCR in 4 individuals from each group. The mean proliferative responses of stimulated cells were significantly low (p<0.05) in APTB and HHC compared to HC (1.35±0.72; 1.55±0.89 and 4.48±4.43) respectively. The mean IFN-g (p<0.05) (43.4+24.8; 46.0±22.2 &70.9±41.5) & IL-10 (85.7±58.7; 63.0±44.2 & 11.4±7.7 pg/ml (P<0.003 &<0.0006) levels were significantly low and high respectively in APTB & HHC when compared to HC. The expression of IFN-g was high (5-fold) in HC when compared to APTB (1.5-fold) &HHC (3-fold), against the corresponding unstimulated cells. IL-10 expression increased by 8- fold in APTB & 6-fold in HHC compared to HC (2-fold). In conclusion, elucidation of the mechanism by which Th1 cytokine is down-regulated may enhance our understanding of susceptibility to disease. Also, follow-up of the contacts for their clinical status may help in identifying a biomarker for house-hold contacts useful for early diagnosis.