Inflammation regulating cytokines in TB affected tissues

Introduction: Cytokines play important role in regulating infection without promoting uncontrolled and damaging inflammatory responses. Herein we focus on the key cytokines and chemokines expressed at the site of infection – in the lungs of TB patients. Aims and objectives: We compared the levels of cytokine/chemokine gene expression in the tuberculoma/caverna wall and in relatively intact tissue at the periphery of resected specimen from post-primary TB patients. Methods: Written informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to biopsy collection. The expression levels of cytokines/chemokines genes were analyzed by TaqMan PCR Assay. ELISA was used to estimate respective proteins in tissue homogenates. Results: Most prominent differences in cytokine/chemokine genes expression were registered when FCT cavity wall and parenchyma tissues were compared. Cxcl1 (p ≤ 0.03) and Cxcl2 (p ≤ 0.01), IL6 (p≤0.0001), IL8 (p ≤0.01) were upregulated in parenchymatous tissue as compared to cavity wall. Destruction processes in tuberculoma patients correlate with the levels of cell migration factors such as IL-6, G-CSF and MIP-1a. Conclusions: Our data indicate significant changes in the levels of certain cytokines/chemokines in the lungs of patients with post-primary TB. These changes primarily concern cytokines/chemokines involved in the regulation of specific inflammation, cell migration and fibrosis formation. This work was supported by the Scientific Program SR 0515-2019-0018.