Reduced systemic and mycobacterial antigen-stimulated concentrations of IL-1ß and IL-18 in tuberculous lymphadenitis.

Gokul Raj, K.; Kadar, M.; Bhaskaran, D .; G omathi, S.; Sridhar, R .; Vidyajayanthi, B .; Gajendraraj, G .; Babu, S.

Cytokine, 2017; 90; 66-72.  

Abstract: Background: Type 1, Type 17 and other pro-inflammatory cytokines are known to play an important role in resistance to pulmonary tuberculosis. The role of these cytokines in tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBL) is not well characterized.

Methods: To estimate the systemic and mycobacterial antigen - stimulated cytokine concentrations of Type 1, Type 17, other pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines in TBL, we examined both the systemic and the antigen-specific concentrations of these cytokines in TBL ( n = 31) before and after chemotherapy, and compared them with those with latent tuberculosis infection (LTB, n = 31).

Results: We observed significantly reduced systemic concentrations of the pro-inflammatory cytokines - IL-1 b and IL-18 but not other Type 1 or Type 17 cytokines in TBL compared to LTB. Following standard anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment, we observed a significant increase in the concentrations of both IL-1 b and IL-18. In addition, we also observed significantly reduced baseline or mycobacterial - antigen or mitogen stimulated concentrations of IL-1 b and IL-18 in TBL individuals. Similar to systemic cytokine concentrations, anti-TB treatment resulted in significantly increased concentrations of these cytokines following antigen stimulation.

Conclusions: TBL is therefore, characterized by reduced systemic and antigen-specific concentrations of IL-1b and IL-18, which are reversible following anti-TB treatment, indicating that these cytokines are potential correlates of protective immunity in TBL.

Keywords : Tuberculosis; Lymphadenitis; Cytokines

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