Specific cytokine patterns of pulmonary tuberculosis in Central Africa

Different cytokines have been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The frequencies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, CD4+CD25+ Forkhead Box Protein (FoxP)3+ T cells, interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and IL-10 were assessed in HIV-negative, pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients (n = 30) and in healthy controls (n = 23) in Gabon. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were stimulated with purified protein derivative (PPD) and early secretory antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6). In patients, a pronounced pro-inflammatory cytokine response with highly significant increased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α accompanied by increased TGF-β was detectable. Differences in IFN-γ responses between patients and healthy individuals were less pronounced than expected. FoxP3 expression did not differ between groups. A distinct cytokine pattern is associated with active pulmonary TB in patients from Central Africa.