Increased frequency of CD4+ CD25+ FoxP3+ T regulatory cells in pulmonary Tuberculosis patients undergoing specific treatment and its relationship with their immune-endocrine profile

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem requiring an appropriate cell immune response (IR) to be controlled. Since regulatory T cells (Tregs) are relevant in IR regulation, we analyzed Tregs variations throughout the course of TB treatment and its relationship with changes in immune-endocrine mediators dealing with disease immunopathology. The cohort was composed of 41 adult patients, 20 of them completing treatment and follow-up. Patients were bled at diagnosis (T0) and at 2 (T2), 4 (T4), 6 (T6), and 9 months following treatment initiation. Twenty-four age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCo) were also included. Tregs (flow cytometry) from TB patients were increased at T0 (versus HCo < 0.05), showing even higher values at T2 (versus T0 < 0.01) and T4 (versus T0 < 0.001). While IL-6, IFN-, TGF- (ELISA), and Cortisol (electrochemiluminescence, EQ) were augmented, DHEA-S (EQ) levels were diminished at T0 with respect to HCo, with cytokines and Cortisol returning to normal values at T9. Tregs correlated positively with IFN- ( = 0.868, < 0.05) at T2 and negatively at T4 ( = −0.795, < 0.05). Lowered levels of proinflammatory cytokines together with an increased frequency of Tregs of patients undergoing specific treatment might reflect a downmodulatory effect of these cells on the accompanying inflammation.Fil: Díaz, Ariana. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnológico Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Santucci, Natalia Estefanía. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnológico Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Bongiovanni, Bettina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnológico Rosario; ArgentinaFil: D'attilio, Luciano David. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnológico Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Massoni, Claudia. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Lioi, Susana. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Radcliffe, Stella. Provincia de Santa Fe. Ministerio de Salud y Medio Ambiente - Rosario. Hospital Provincial del Centenario; ArgentinaFil: Didoli, Griselda. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Bottasso, Oscar Adelmo. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnológico Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Bay, Maria Luisa. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Inmunología; Argentin