Phenotypes of Lung Mononuclear Phagocytes in HIV Seronegative Tuberculosis Patients: Evidence for New Recruitment and Cell Activation

• Published in: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz Vol. 91; no. 3; pp. 389 - 394
• Main Authors: Lapa e Silva, J R, Linhares, C, Boechat, N, Rego, L, Almeida, M G, Kriski, A L, Ho, J L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz 01.06.1996; Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ)
• Subjects: activation; Adult; AIDS/HIV; alveolar macrophages; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Bronchoalveolar Lavage; Cell Count; Female; HIV Seronegativity; human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Lung - pathology; Macrophage Activation; Macrophages, Alveolar; Male; monoclonal antibodies; Monocytes; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; PARASITOLOGY; Phagocytes - microbiology; Phenotype; pulmonary tuberculosis; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - microbiology; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - pathology; pulmonary tuberculosis; activation; alveolar macrophages; monoclonal antibodies
• ISSN: 1678-8060; 0074-0276; 1678-8060; 0074-0276
• DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02761996000300026

Mycobacterium tuberculosis preferentially resides in mononuclear phagocytes. The mechanisms by which mononuclear phagocytes keep M. tuberculosis in check or by which the microbe evades control to cause disease remain poorly understood. As an initial effort to delineate these mechanisms, we examined by immunostaining the phenotype of mononuclear phagocytes obtained from lungs of patients with active tuberculosis. From August 1994 to March 1995, consecutive patients who had an abnormal chest X-ray, no demostrable acid-fast bacilli in sputum specimens and required a diagnostic bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were enrolled. Of the 39 patients enrolled, 21 had microbiologically diagnosed tuberculosis. Thirteen of the 21 tuberculosis patients were either HIV seronegative (n = 12) or had no risk factor for HIV and constituted the tuberculosis group. For comparison, M. tuberculosis negative patients who had BAL samples taken during this time (n = 9) or normal healthy volunteers (n = 3) served as control group.