Browsing by Author "Nausch Norman"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Aberrant plasma IL-7 and soluble IL-7 receptor levels indicate impaired T-cell response to IL-7 in human tuberculosis
    (PLOS, 2017) Lundtoft Christian; Nausch Norman; Owusu-Dabo Ellis; Jacobsen Marc; Lang Franziska....et al
    T-cell proliferation and generation of protective memory during chronic infections depend on Interleukin-7 (IL-7) availability and receptivity. Regulation of IL-7 receptor (IL-7R) expression and signalling are key for IL-7-modulated T-cell functions. Aberrant expression of soluble (s) and membrane-associated (m) IL-7R molecules is associated with development of autoim munity and immune failure in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. Here we investigated the role of IL-7/IL-7R on T-cell immunity in human tuberculosis. We per formed two independent case-control studies comparing tuberculosis patients and healthy contacts. This was combined with follow-up examinations for a subgroup of tuberculosis patients under therapy and recovery. Blood plasma and T cells were characterised for IL-7/ sIL-7R and mIL-7R expression, respectively. IL-7-dependent T-cell functions were deter mined by analysing STAT5 phosphorylation, antigen-specific cytokine release and by ana lysing markers of T-cell exhaustion and inflammation. Tuberculosis patients had lower soluble IL-7R (p < 0.001) and higher IL-7 (p < 0.001) plasma concentrations as compared to healthy contacts. Both markers were largely independent and aberrant expression normal ised during therapy and recovery. Furthermore, tuberculosis patients had lower levels ofmIL-7R in T cells caused by post-transcriptional mechanisms. Functional in vitro tests indi cated diminished IL-7-induced STAT5 phosphorylation and impaired IL-7-promoted cyto kine release of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4+ T cells from tuberculosis patients. Finally, we determined T-cell exhaustion markers PD-1 and SOCS3 and detected increased SOCS3 expression during therapy. Only moderate correlation of PD-1 and SOCS3 with IL-7 expression was observed. We conclude that diminished soluble IL-7R and increased IL-7 plasma concentrations, as well as decreased membrane-associated IL-7R expression in T cells, reflect impaired T-cell sensitivity to IL-7 in tuberculosis patients. These findings show similarities to pathognomonic features of impaired T-cell functions and immune failure described in AIDS patients.