FEATURES OF SPECIFIC IMMUNE RESPONSE IN THE PATIENTS WITH FIBROUS/CAVERNOUS TUBERCULOSIS OF LUNGS

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to determine the different profiles of the immune responsiveness of the patients with fibro-cavernous pulmonary tuberculosis to PPD from M.tuberculosis in comparison with their response to standart mitogen and IFNγ. A pronounced specific Th1 response was found, evidenced by the enhanced proliferation and IL-2 and IFNγ production after contact of their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with PPD. At the same time a high frequency of PPD-anergy was shown: сonsiderable proportion of TB patients was characterized by low proliferative response to PPD coupled with the low levels of IL-2 and IFNγ. Most of the patients revealed failure of monocyte/macrophage oxidative burst in response to PPD. Additionally a positive correlation was found between the levels of their PBMC’s oxidative burst and IL-4 production