In vivo expression of innate immunity markers in patients with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Background: Toll-like receptors (TLRs), Coronin-1 and Sp110 are essential factors for the containment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo expression of these molecules at different stages of the infection and uncover possible relationships between these markers and the state of the disease.

Methods: Twenty-two patients with active tuberculosis, 15 close contacts of subjects with latent disease, 17 close contacts of subjects negative for mycobacterium antigens and 10 healthy, unrelated to patients, subjects were studied.