Asian Pac J Allergy
-
Asian Pac J Allergy · Sep 2001
ReviewRole of cytokines in immune response to pulmonary tuberculosis.
Immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis needs to be explored in search of a proper vaccine as well as for adjunctive immunotherapy particularly in patients with drug resistant tuberculosis. In tuberculosis, IFN-gamma, a product of T lymphocytes, contributes to protective immunity against M. tuberculosis by activating macrophages to a more effective elimination of these organisms. Interleukin-12 and interleukin-18 are macrophage products that favor the development of Th1 type of protective immune response. ⋯ It is the balance between the inflammatory and protective immune response that determines the outcome of tuberculosis infection. In that context, increased IFN-y as against reduced TNF-alpha probably suggests a better outcome. Similarly, an effective vaccine has to stimulate a precise combination of T cells and cytokines needed for the many aspects of immune response and a potent immunotherapeutic agent may require to encompass the multiple parameters to be of therapeutic relevance.