Evaluation of IFIT3 and ORM1 as Biomarkers for Discriminating Active Tuberculosis from Latent Infection.

Objective: Current commercially available immunological tests cannot be used for discriminating active tuberculosis (TB) from latent TB infection. To evaluate the value of biomarker candidates in the diagnosis of active TB, this study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) between patients with active TB and individuals with latent TB infection by transcriptome sequencing.

Methods: The differentially expressed genes in unstimulated PBMCs and in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigen-stimulated PBMCs from patients with active TB and individuals with latent TB infection were identified by transcriptome sequencing.

[Expression of CD160 in natural killer (NK) cells from patients with active tuberculosis and its relationship with cell functions].

Objective To investigate the relationship between the CD160 expression and anti-tuberculosis immunity. Methods Fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of CD160 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Flow cytometry was used to analyze the expression of CD160 on main subtypes of PBMCs, such as T cells, B cells, NK cells and monocytes.

Mesenchymal-epithelial Transition Factor Regulates Monocyte Function during Mycobacterial Infection via Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase.

Objective: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), causes an estimated 1.6 million human deaths annually, but the pathogenesis of TB remains unclear. Immunity plays a critical role in the onset and outcome of TB.

[The expression of T-bet is negatively correlated with the expressions of IFN-γ and TNF-α in CD4 T cells of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis].

Objective To investigate the relationship between T box expressed in T cells (T-bet) and the production of interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) in CD4T cells of patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from peripheral blood by density gradient centrifugation. Individuals with latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection were screened by enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT).

Enhanced immune response of MAIT cells in tuberculous pleural effusions depends on cytokine signaling.

The functions of MAIT cells at the site of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in humans are still largely unknown. In this study, the phenotypes and immune response of MAIT cells from tuberculous pleural effusions and peripheral blood were investigated. MAIT cells in tuberculous pleural effusions had greatly enhanced IFN-γ, IL-17F and granzyme B response compared with those in peripheral blood.

Mucosal-associated invariant T cells from patients with tuberculosis exhibit impaired immune response.

Objectives: To identify factors which regulate MAIT cell response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens, and to investigate the role of MAIT cells in patients with active tuberculosis.

Methods: Immune response of MAIT cells to M. tuberculosis antigens were compared between patients with active TB and healthy controls by flow cytometry and RNA sequencing.

[Down-regulated expression of c-Jun in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with severe secondary pulmonary tuberculosis].

Objective: To compare the expression of c-Jun in severe versus mild secondary pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and understand the relationship of the c-Jun expression with the inflammation and immune injury of severe secondary TB patients.

Methods: Differentially expressed genes were screened in patients with severe TB, the ones with mild TB and healthy controls using Affymetrix human gene expression chips. Bioinformatic analysis was performed on the results of the gene chip screening.

Mucosal-associated invariant T-cell function is modulated by programmed death-1 signaling in patients with active tuberculosis.

Rationale: Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have been proven to play an important role in host defense against mycobacterial infection in animal infection models; however, the functional role of MAIT cells in patients with active tuberculosis (TB) is still largely unknown.

Objectives: To understand the clinical features and functions of MAIT cells in patients with active TB.

Methods: MAIT cells were analyzed in patients with pulmonary TB, tuberculous pleurisy, and tuberculous peritonitis by flow cytometry.