The effect of Bacille Calmette-Guerin on the immunopathogenesis of tuberculous pleurisy

Tayfun Çalışkan,

doi:10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2013.7104

Tayfun Çalışkan¹, Esin Aktaş Çetin², Oğuzhan Okutan¹, Faruk Çiftçi¹, Günnur Deniz², Hatice Kaya³, Zafer Kartaloğlu¹

¹Department of Pulmonary Diseases, GATA Haydarpaşa Training Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
²Department of Immunology, Institute of Experimental Medicine (DETAE), İstanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey
³Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey

DOI : 10.5606/tgkdc.dergisi.2013.7104

Background: This study aims to investigate the role of CD4⁺ a nd CD8⁺ T cells and T helper (Th)1/Th2 lymphocyte cell balance in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculous pleurisy and the immunomodulation resulting from Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) were investigated.

Methods: A total of 26 patients, who were pathologically diagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy, including 10 of whom had no BCG vaccine and 16 of whom had BCG vaccine, were included. Total CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ T cells, total CD19⁺ B cells and natural killer cell ratio as well as intracellular interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 expression in pleural fluid lymphocytes were analyzed.

Results: In BCG positive group, CD8+ T lymphocytes were significantly increased. Intracellular IL-4 levels of lymphocytes in pleural fluid were significantly reduced in these subjects, compared to BCG negative subjects.

Conclusion: BCG vaccine may suppress Th2 type immune response and also lead to increased levels of CD8+ T cells. CD8+ T cells may play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculous pleurisy.

Keywords : Bacille Calmette Guerin; immunopathogenesis; tuberculous pleurisy

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