Immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate antigen in cured spinal tuberculosis patients and their spouses.

Sunil Mathan Kurian; Selvaraj, P.; Reetha, A.M.; Niruparani Charles; Anila Anna Mathan; Narayanan, P.R.

Indian Journal of Tuberculosis; 2001; 48; 3-7.          

Summary : Humoral and cell mediated immune responses were studied in cured spinal tuberculosis patients and their spouses to understand immunity to tuberculosis in cured patients. Antibody titre and immune complex levels were measured and lymphocyte response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate antigen was observed in cured spinal tuberculosis patients (n=30) and their spouses (n=27). A trend towards increased antibody titre was seen in cured patients as compared to their spouses. Significantly increased circulating immune complex levels, as measured by PEG OD280 (polyethylene glycol optical density 280) were seen in the contacts compared to cured patients. And a trend towards increased lymphocyte response to M. tuberculosis culture filtrate antigen was seen with different antigen concentrations (0.1, 1 and 10 m g/ml). Moreover, the effect of active-pulmonary-tuberculosis (ATB) plasma taken from HLA-DR2 positive and DR2 negative patients on lymphocyte response of the cured patients showed no dramatic immunomodulatory effect in the lymphocyte response when treated with DR2 positive or DR2 negative plasma. The study suggests that the memory response to M. tuberculosis is well maintained even after 10-15 years of treatment.

Key words : Antibody titre, immune complex, lymphocyte response, spinal tuberculosis

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