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CD4<sup>+</sup> and CD8<sup>+</sup> T-cells expressing interferon gamma in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients


Betty Agustina Tambunan
Hery Priyanto
Jusak Nugraha
Soedarsono Soedarsono

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health problem. Immune response through CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is needed to produce Interferon gamma (IFN-γ), a cytokine eliminate Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We aimed to compare the cellular immune response based on the percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing interferon gamma in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients before and after 2 months of tuberculosis treatment.

Methods: It is a longitudinal cohort study included 12 patients with new active pulmonary TB of the Pulmonary Hospital, Surabaya. The CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing interferon gamma was measured by flow cytometry method.

Results: The mean CD4+ interferon gamma percentage of new active pulmonary TB before treatment was higher than 2 months after tuberculosis treatment (4.48% vs. 1.52%) and there was a significantly decreased (p = 0.025). The mean CD8+ interferon gamma percentage of new active pulmonary TB before treatment was higher than 2 months after tuberculosis treatment (3.56% vs. 2.89%) but not significantly decreased (p = 0.186).

Conclusions: The mean CD4+ IFN-γ percentage of new active pulmonary TB before treatment was higher than 2 months after treatment, suggesting that CD4+ T cells expressing IFN-γ play a role in protection against pulmonary TB infection.

Keywords: IFN-γ, CD4+, CD8+, new active pulmonary tuberculosis, Flow cytometry, OAT


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eISSN: 2006-0165