Tuberc Respir Dis.  2004 Jul;57(1):25-31.

IFN-gammamRNA Expression in Tuberculous Pleural Lymphocytes After in vitro Stimulation with M. tuberculosis Antigens

• Park JS
• Kim YS
• Jee YK
• Lee KY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: IFN-gamma is the main effector mediator of the host immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Evaluating the IFN-gamma gene expression in response to M. tuberculosis antigens may help in elucidating the host defense mechanism against M. tuberculosis and in the development of a vaccine.
METHODS
The IFN-gamma mRNA expression in the lymphocytes obtained from pleural effusions from tuberculous pleurisy patients (TB-PLC) after in vitro stimulation with whole cell M. tuberculosis(H37Rv), purified protein derivatives(PPD), man-lipoarabinamman (man-LAM), ara-LAM and Antigen 85B(Ag85B) were evaluated. The degree of IFN-gamma mRNA expression was determined by a semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method.
RESULTS
M. tuberculosis induced the expression of IFN-gamma mRNA in the TB-PLC in time and dose dependent manners. The PPD and Ag85B induced high levels of IFN-gamma mRNA expression in the TB-PLC. However, man-LAM inhibited IFN-gamma mRNA expression in the TB-PLC, while ara-LAM did not.
CONCLUSION
IFN-gamma mRNA expression in TB-PLC is stimulated by PPD and Ag85B, but inhibited by man-LAM.

Keyword

Interferon-gamma; Tuberculosis; PPD; Ag85B; LAM

MeSH Terms

Gene Expression
Humans
Interferon-gamma
Lymphocytes*
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Pleural Effusion
RNA, Messenger
Tuberculosis*
Tuberculosis, Pleural
Interferon-gamma
RNA, Messenger