Increased expression of mRNA encoding interleukin (IL)‐4 and its splice variant IL‐4δ2 in cells from contacts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in the absence of in vitro stimulation

Summary Expression of interleukin (IL)‐4 is increased in tuberculosis and thought to be detrimental. We show here that in healthy contacts there is increased expression of its naturally occurring antagonist, IL‐4delta2 (IL‐4δ2). We identified contacts by showing that their peripheral blood mononucle...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Immunology 2004-08, Vol.112 (4), p.669-673
Main Authors: Fletcher, Helen A., Owiafe, Patrick, Jeffries, David, Hill, Philip, Rook, Graham A. W., Zumla, Alimuddin, Doherty, T. Mark, Brookes, Roger H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ESAT‐6
IL‐4
IL‐482
Original
tuberculosis
vaccine
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Summary:Summary Expression of interleukin (IL)‐4 is increased in tuberculosis and thought to be detrimental. We show here that in healthy contacts there is increased expression of its naturally occurring antagonist, IL‐4delta2 (IL‐4δ2). We identified contacts by showing that their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) released interferon (IFN)‐γ in response to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis‐specific antigen 6 kDa early secretory antigenic target (ESAT‐6). Fresh unstimulated PBMC from these contacts contained higher levels of mRNA encoding IL‐4δ2 (P=0·002) than did cells from ESAT‐6 negative donors (noncontacts). These data indicate that contact with M. tuberculosis induces unusual, previously unrecognized, immunological events. We tentatively hypothesize that progression to active disease might depend upon the underlying ratio of IL‐4 to IL‐4δ2.
ISSN:0019-2805
1365-2567
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2567.2004.01922.x