Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Specific IL-21+IFN-γ+CD4+ T Cells Are Regulated by IL-12.

ABSTRACT: In the current study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)-specific T and B cells, we found that MTB-specific peptides from early secreted antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6) and culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10) induced the expression of IL-21 predominantly in CD4(+) T cells. A fraction of IL-21-expressing CD4(+) T cells simultaneously expressed Th1 cytokines but did not secrete Th2 or Th17 cytokines, suggesting that MTB-specific IL-21-expressing CD4(+) T cells were different from Th1, Th2 and Th17 subpopulations. The majority of MTB-specific IL-21-expressing CD4(+) T cells co-expressed IFN-γ and IL-21+IFN-γ(+)CD4(+) T cells exhibited obviously polyfunctionality. In addition, MTB-specific IL-21-expressing CD4(+) T cells displayed a CD45RO+CD62Ll(ow)CCR7(low)CD40L(high)ICOS(high) phenotype. Bcl-6

SUBMITTER: Li L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4718545 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature