Natural Killer Cell Activity in Multidrug-Resistant Pulmonary Tuberculosis

• Published in: Respiration Vol. 68; no. 6; pp. 590 - 594
• Main Authors: Yildiz, Pınar, Kadakal, Figen, Tütüncü, Yıldız, Deniz, Günnur, Gürel, Nuray, Adın, Suzan, Yilmaz, Veysel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland Karger 2001; S. Karger AG
• Subjects: Adult; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the respiratory system; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical Investigations; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Female; HIV Infections - immunology; Human bacterial diseases; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infectious diseases; Killer Cells, Natural; Male; Medical sciences; Mycobacterium; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant - immunology; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - immunology; Multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis; T lymphocyte subsets; Natural killer cell activity; Human; Lung disease; Treatment resistance; Pathophysiology; Respiratory disease; Lung; Mycobacterial infection; Infection; Natural killer cell; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Tuberculosis; T-Lymphocyte; Bacteriosis; Complication; Antituberculous agent
• ISSN: 0025-7931; 1423-0356
• DOI: 10.1159/000050577

Background: Multidrug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDRTB), a major problem in developing countries, may result from either insufficiency of host cellular immune response or mycobacterial mechanisms which has been more intensively investigated so far. Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate natural killer cell activity (NKA) and T lymphocyte subsets in HIV– patients with secondary MDRTB. Methods: 20 male patients with MDRTB (mean age 38 ± 8 years), 15 nonresistant tuberculosis male patients (NRTB) (mean age 36 ± 11 years) and 12 healthy male controls (mean age 35 ± 8 years) were included. The percentages of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD25+, CD11b+ and CD16+56+ cells were measured by flow-cytometric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). NKA was evaluated using the anticandidal index method. Results: The mean tuberculin response was higher in MDRTB and NRTB patients compared to controls (15.4 ± 3.8, 15.1 ± 3.3 and 10.9 ± 2.8 mm, respectively; p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between PPD response and PBL subsets or NKA. The percentages of both CD3+ and CD3+CD4+ T lymphocytes were significantly lower in MDRTB (62.4 ± 12.1 and 33.9 ± 9.0%) compared to NRTB (70.8 ± 7.5 and 42.9 ± 8.6%; p < 0.05). Patients with MDRTB had significantly lower NKA compared to NRTB and controls (30.9 ± 11.3, 49.7 ± 15.5 and 40.0 ± 8.5%, respectively; p < 0.01). Conclusion: This reduction in NKA may suggest a role for impaired NK function in the pathogenesis of MDRTB in HIV– patients.