Severe Tuberculosis Induces Unbalanced Up-Regulation of Gene Networks and Overexpression of IL-22 MIP-1α CCL27 IP-10 CCR4 CCR5 CXCR3 PD1 PDL2 IL-3 IFN-β TIM1 and TLR2 but Low Antigen-Specific Cellular Responses

摘要

The immune mechanisms by which early host-mycobacterium interaction leads to the development of severe tuberculosis (TB) remain poorly characterized in humans. Here, we demonstrate that severe TB in juvenile rhesus monkeys down-regulated many genes in the blood but up-regulated selected genes constituting gene networks of Th17 and Th1 responses, T cell activation and migration, and inflammation and chemoattractants in the pulmonary and lymphoid compartments. Overexpression (450–2740-fold) of 13 genes encoding inflammatory cytokines and receptors (IL-22, CCL27, MIP-1α, IP-10, CCR4, CCR5, and CXCR3), immune dysfunctional receptors and ligands (PD1 and PDL2), and immune activation elements (IL-3, IFN-β, TIM1, and TLR2) was seen in tissues, with low antigen-specific cellular responses. Thus, severe TB in macaques features unbalanced up-regulation of immune-gene networks without proportional increases in antigen-specific cellular responses.