Abstract
CD8 T cells play a critical role in control of chronic viral infections; however, the role of these cells in containing persistent bacterial infections, such as those caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is less clear. We assessed the phenotype and functional capacity of CD8 T cells specific for the immunodominant Mtb antigens CFP-10 and ESAT-6, in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) disease, before and after treatment, and in healthy persons with latent Mtb infection (LTBI). In patients with TB disease, CFP-10/ESAT-6-specific IFN-γ+ CD8 T cells had an activated, pro-apoptotic phenotype, with lower Bcl-2 and CD127 expression, and higher Ki67, CD57, and CD95 expression, than in LTBI. When CFP-10/ESAT-6-specific IFN-γ+ CD8 T cells were detectable, expression of distinct combinations of these markers was highly sensitive and specific for differentiating TB disease from LTBI. Successful treatment of disease resulted in changes of these markers, but not in restoration of CFP-10/ESAT-6-specific CD8 or CD4 memory T cell proliferative capacity. These data suggest that high mycobacterial load in active TB disease is associated with activated, short-lived CFP-10/ESAT-6-specific CD8 T cells with impaired functional capacity that is not restored following treatment. By contrast, LTBI is associated with preservation of long-lived CFP-10/ESAT-6-specific memory CD8 T cells that maintain high Bcl-2 expression and which may readily proliferate.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Aged
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Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
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Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism
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Apoptosis / drug effects
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Apoptosis / immunology*
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Bacterial Proteins / immunology
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Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
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CD57 Antigens / immunology
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CD57 Antigens / metabolism
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
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CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / microbiology
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Cell Proliferation*
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Female
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Flow Cytometry
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Humans
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Immunophenotyping
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Interferon-gamma / immunology
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Interferon-gamma / metabolism
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Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit / immunology
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Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit / metabolism
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Ki-67 Antigen / immunology
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Ki-67 Antigen / metabolism
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Latent Tuberculosis / drug therapy
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Latent Tuberculosis / immunology
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Latent Tuberculosis / microbiology
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis / metabolism
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis / physiology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / immunology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / metabolism
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Treatment Outcome
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / immunology*
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Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / microbiology
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Young Adult
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fas Receptor / immunology
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fas Receptor / metabolism
Substances
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Antigens, Bacterial
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Bacterial Proteins
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CD57 Antigens
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CFP-10 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
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ESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis
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Interleukin-7 Receptor alpha Subunit
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Ki-67 Antigen
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
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fas Receptor
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Interferon-gamma