Networked T cell death following macrophage infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Depletion of T cells following infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) impairs disease resolution, and interferes with clinical test performance that relies on cell-mediated immunity. A number of mechanisms contribute to this T cell suppression, such as activation-induced death and trafficking of T cells out of the peripheral circulation and into the diseased lungs. The extent to which Mtb infection of human macrophages affects T cell viability however, is not well characterised.

Methodology/principal findings

We found that lymphopenia (<1.5 × 10(9) cells/l) was prevalent among culture-positive tuberculosis patients, and lymphocyte counts significantly improved post-therapy. We previously reported that Mtb-infected human macrophages resulted in death of infe

SUBMITTER: Macdonald SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3366923 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature