miR-30c is specifically repressed in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

Tuberculous pleurisy (PLTB) is a common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. It often resolves without chemotherapy being hence considered a rather benign manifestation of the disease. Patients with PLTB mount an effective anti-mycobacterial response, unlike those with active pulmonary TB (pTB) that were shown to present an imbalance in plasma immune and endocrine mediators.

Levels of inflammatory cytokines, adrenal steroids, and mRNA for GRα, GRβ and 11βHSD1 in TB pleurisy.

Our previous work on the immune-endocrine features of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) showed markedly decreased plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) together with augmented concentrations of Cortisol and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Studies in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) indicated a lower mRNA α/β ratio of glucocorticoid receptors -GR- together with a higher 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11βHSD1) mRNA expression in cases with severe pulmonary TB. Since Pleural TB (PLTB) is a rather benign manifestation of TB, we now analyzed the systemic and local immune-endocrine profile as well as the GRα, GRβ, 11βHSD1 and 11βHSD2 transcripts in PBMC and pleural effusion mononuclear cells (PEMC) of patients with PLTB.

Altered microRNA expression levels in mononuclear cells of patients with pulmonary and pleural tuberculosis and their relation with components of the immune response.

Different lines of evidence demonstrate that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in host-pathogen interactions. In this study we investigated the expression patterns of several miRNAs, most of them involved in regulating inflammatory responses, in patients with tuberculosis (TB). In order to understand the events occurring at the site of infection, we employed mononuclear cells obtained from both peripheral blood (PBMC) and pleural fluids (PFMC) of patients.

Changes in the immune and endocrine responses of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis undergoing specific treatment.

We evaluated immune and endocrine status following antituberculosis treatment in HIV-negative patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis (TB). Treatment led to a decrease in IL-6, IL-1β, and C-reactive protein levels. Cortisol levels decreased throughout the anti-TB treatment, particularly after 4 months, but changes were less pronounced than those seen in proinflammatory mediators.

The adrenal steroid response during tuberculosis and its effects on the mycobacterial-driven IFN-gamma production of patients and their household contacts.

Earlier studies revealed that patients with tuberculosis (TB) have imbalanced immunoendocrine responses and that adrenal steroids [cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)] can modify their specific cell-mediated immune response. Because most household contacts (HHCs) of contagious TB patients develop a subclinical and self-controlled process (latent TB), we studied some features of their immune and endocrine responses, particularly those related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Nineteen HHCs, 24 untreated TB patients (15 moderate, 9 advanced), and 18 healthy controls of similar age were studied.

Functional characteristics of neutrophils and mononuclear cells from tuberculosis patients stimulated in vitro with heat killed M. tuberculosis.

Background: The major protective immune response against intracellular bacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is a cell-mediated immunity involving neutrophils (PMNs) and peripheral mononuclear cells (MCs), contributing to the clearance of this microorganism and the resolution of the infection. This study was addressed to evaluate PMNs and MCs for their bactericidal function.

Methods: The sample comprised 14 tuberculosis (TB) inpatients (HIV-), and 10 healthy controls (HCo).

TNF-alpha, TGF-beta and NO relationship in sera from tuberculosis (TB) patients of different severity.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the main cause of death by infection diseases worldwide. Considering that NO, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta participate a great deal in TB immunopathogenesis, we wished to analyse whether these mediators showed some relationship with the degree of pulmonary affectation. The sample comprised 29 TB (HIV-), inpatients with mild-moderate (n = 10) or advanced (n = 19) newly-diagnosed disease, together with 12 healthy controls HCo.