[Analysis of T lymphocyte subsets and their expression of 4 cytokines in tuberculosis mice].

Objective: To investigate the relationship of anti-tuberculosis immunity with perforin (PFN), granzyme B (GzmB), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) expression by T lymphocyte subsets.

Methods: Sixty mice were randomly allocated into a tuberculosis group and a control group (n = 30 each). Surface markers of T lymphocytes were stained with CD(3)PerCP, CD(4)FTTC, CD(8)APC, and intracellular cytotoxic molecules with PE-PFN, PE-GzmB, PE-IFN-gamma, and PE-IL-2 multi-color-labeled monoclonal antibodies, and analyzed at the single cell level. The relation between T lymphocyte subsets expression PFN, GzmB, IFN-gamma, IL-2 and antituberculosis immunity by flow cytometer.

Results: (1) CD(4)(+), CD(8)(+), and CD(4)(+)CD(8)(+) (DP) T lymphocytes all expressed PFN, GzmB, IFN-gamma and IL-2 to some degrees. The expressions of PFN and GzmB were much higher in CD(8)(+) T lymphocytes than those in CD(4)(+) T lymphocytes, while the expressions of IFN-gamma and IL-2 were higher in CD(4)(+) T lymphocytes. (2) The counts of T lymphocyte subsets and the percentages of T lymphocyte subsets to total lymphocytes may or may not reflect the cellular immunity consistently. (3) There was no significant difference in T lymphocytes expressing PFN between the tuberculosis group and the control group. But the counts of CD(3)(+), CD(4)(+), DP and CD(8)(+) T lymphocytes and the percentages of CD(3)(+), DP and CD(8)(+) cells expressing GzmB were significantly increased in the tuberculosis group (t value from -3.72 to 4.13, all P < 0.05). (4) IFN-gamma expressing CD(3)(+) and CD(4)(+) lymphocytes were increased significantly in the tuberculosis group. The counts of CD(8)(+) and DP T lymphocytes and the percentages of CD(3)(+), CD(4)(+), CD(8)(+), and DP cells that expressed IL-2 were decreased significantly in the tuberculosis group (t value from 2.62 to 3.46, all P < 0.05).

Conclusion: CD(4)(+), CD(8)(+) and DP lymphocytes all can express PFN, GzmB, IFN-gamma and IL-2 at different degree levels.