Immunophenotypic characterisation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with MDR pulmonary tuberculosis

Objective: To determine the changes that take place in the sub populations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with MDR- tuberculosis and to compare their immune profile to responders to anti- tuberculosis drugs and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Flow cytometry was used to determine the absolute numbers and percentages of T CD3, T CD4, T CD8, T CD19, T CD14, T CD25 and T CD56 cells in 25 patients with active pulmonary TB responding to treatment,15 MDR TB and in 20 healthy volunteers. Result: There were significant differences in the values of CD3, CD4, CD19, and CD56 T cells among the groups. CD4 was significantly higher in controls than Responders (39.5 ± 5.6 vs 33.5 ± 6,P < 0.002), and lower in Responders than MDR but not significant (33.5 ± 6 vs 38.1 ± 4.1,P < 0.06). CD3 was significantly lower in MDR than Responders and controls (45.12± 6.6 vs 52.± 11.4&66.2± 5.7, P < 0.0001). CD19 significantly higher in Responders than MDR and Controls (P < 0.04 & 0.03), lower in MDR than Controls but not significant (5.72± 1.7 vs 6.61± 4.2, p<0.8). CD56 significantly higher in MDR and Responders than Controls (P < 0.007 & 0.02), also higher in MDR than Responders but not significant (14.7±8.1 vs 9.60± 6.2, p<0.07). There were no significantly differences in the values of CD4 CD8, CD4 CD25, CD8, CD8 HLA and CD14 between all groups. Conclusion: There are significant changes in the cellular immune response particularly affecting the CD3, CD4, CD19 and CD56 T cells in MDR pulmonary TB. Therefore, further studies of these changes may have important implications on the development of diagnostic tools and treatment modalities.