Lymphocytotoxic antibodies & immunity in pulmonary tuberculosis.

Uma, H.; Selvaraj, P.; Reetha, A.M.; Theresa Xavier; Prabhakar, R.; Narayanan, P.R.

Indian Journal of Medical Research; 1999; 109; 5-10.          

To understand whether the presence of cold reactive lmphocytotoxic antibodies (LCA) (reactive at 15oC) in the system has any effect on immunity to tuberculosis lymphocytotoxic antibodies to adherent cells (enriched-B cells) and non-adherent cells were studied in active-TB (n=42) and inactive-TB (cured) patients (n=49) and healthy controls (n=32). The plasma samples of inactive-TB patients showed higher percentage of positivity for lymphocytotoxic antibodies (36.7%) than active-TB patients (21.4%) and control subjects (18.8%). No significant difference on antibody and lymphocyte response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate antigens was observed between LCA positive and LCA negative active-TB patients and normal healthy controls. Further, determination of HLA-DR phenotype of the patients and control subjects showed that individuals positive for lymphocytotoxic antibodies were more among HLA-DR2 positive and DR7 positive active-TB patients and control subjects than non-DR2 and non-DR7 subjects. The present study suggests that the cold reactive lymphocytotoxic antibodies may be against B-lymphocytes and persistent for a longer time. HLA-DR2 and -DR7 may be associated with the occurrence of LCA activity. Further, the presence of LCA has no immunoregulatory role on immunity to tuberculosis.

Back to List of publications / Home