Changes in Lymphocyte Subsets in the Peripheral Blood of Patients with Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis

• Published in: Journal of international medical research 2009-11, Vol.37 (6), p.1742-1749
• Main Authors: Wu, YE, Zhang, SW, Peng, WG, Li, KS, Li, K, Jiang, JK, Lin, JH, Cai, YM
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antigens, CD - metabolism; B-Lymphocytes - cytology; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-CD8 Ratio; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - cytology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Female; Humans; Lymphocyte Subsets - cytology; Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - blood; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - immunology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0300-0605; 1473-2300
• DOI: 10.1177/147323000903700610

The aim of this study was to determine the percentage of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood in patients with active tuberculosis. A total of 21 patients with active tuberculosis and 15 healthy volunteers were included in the study. T-lymphocyte subsets, B-lymphocytes (CD19+ cells), natural killer (NK) cells and cells positive for costimulatory molecules CD28 and CD152 were evaluated using flow cytometry. Patients with tuberculosis had a significantly decreased percentage of CD3+ and CD3+CD4+ cells, and a significantly decreased ratio of CD3+CD4+ to CD3+CD8+ cells compared with healthy controls. In contrast, the percentage of B-cells (CD19+ cells), CD3+CD8+ cells, CD28+ cells, CD152+ cells, and subpopulations of CD4+CD152+, CD8+CD152+ and CD8+CD28+ T-cells were all significantly increased compared with healthy controls. There were no statistically significant differences in the percentages of NK cells or CD4+CD28+ cells between patients and controls. These results indicate that patients with active tuberculosis have altered lymphocyte homeostasis.