HLA-DR phenotypes and lymphocyte response to M. tuberculosis antigens in cured spinal tuberculosis patients and their patients and their contacts.

Kurian, S.M.; Selvaraj, P.; Reetha, A.M.; Charles, N.; Narayanan, P.R.

Indian Journal of Tuberculosis; 2004; 51; 71-75.

Summary: Background: Our earlier studies on Human Leucocyte Antigens (HLA) in pulmonary tuberculosis patients revealed the association of HLA-DR2 antigen with susceptibility to pulmonary TB and DR2 antigen has been shown to influence the immunity to tuberculosis.

Objective: The present study was carried out to find out whether HLA-DR antigens are associated with susceptibility to spinal tuberculosis. Moreover, the role of HLA-DR antigens on lymphoproliferative response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate antigens was studied using Lymphocyte Transformation Test (LTT).

Material and Methods: HLA-DR genotyping and lymphoproliferative response was carried out in 63 cured spinal TB patients and 63 control subjects (spouses of pulmonary and spinal TB patients).

Results: A trend towards an increased frequency of HLA-DR9 antigen was observed in spinal TB patients compared to controls. A significantly decreased lymphocyte response to M. tuberculosis antigens was observed in HLA-DR9 antigen positive control subjects compared to HLA-DR9 antigen negative subjects (P=0.0009) whereas increased response was observed with DR9 positive cured spinal TB patients compared to HLA-DR9 antigen negative patients. Further, HLA-DR3 antigen positive patients showed a decreased lymphocyte response compared to HLA-DR3 antigen negative patients (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The study suggests that HLA-DR9 antigen either alone or in combination with other HLA antigen as haplotype and non-HLA genes may be associated with susceptibility to spinal TB and play a regulatory role on the immune response to M. tuberculosis in spinal tuberculosis patients.

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