Regulatory T lymphocytes in evaluation of the local protective cellular immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Romanian patients

Abstract

Active suppression by Regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) might be important in controlling immune responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Our aim was to evaluate the local cellular immune response to Mtb, by evaluation of Treg cells in pleural fluid (PF) compared to peripheral blood (PB) from patients with active Mtb infection and healthy Romanian subjects. Tregs were isolated using MACS CD4 +CD25 +CD127 dim/- (Miltenyi) and CD4 CD25 T cells and Foxp3 transcription factor were analyzed by flow cytometry. We found higher % of Tregs in PF compared to PB from patients or healthy Romanian subjects, which might explain the relatively effective local immune response against Mtb infection