Down regulation of RANTES in pleural site is associated with inhibition of antigen specific response in tuberculosis
Authors: Sai Kumar Auzumeedi
Ramakrishna Vankayalapati
Sharadambal Sunder Ramaseri
Ramulu Gaddam
Sheikh Ghousunnissa
Kamakshi Prudhula Devalraju
Satya Sudheer Pydi
Vijaya Lakshmi Valluri
Journal: Tuberculosis (2019)
Discipline: IMMUNOLOGY
Keywords: Ag85A; Chemokines; Pleural effusion; RANTES; TB.
Affiliations: Immunology and Molecular Biology Division, Blue Peter Public Health and Research Centre, LEPRA Society, Cherlapally, Hyderabad, 501301, India., Department of Respiratory Medicine, AP Chest and General Hospital, Osmania Medical College, Erragadda, Hyderabad, 500038, India., Department of Pulmonary Immunology, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Texas Health Center, Tyler, TX, 75708, USA. Electronic address: ., Immunology and Molecular Biology Division, Blue Peter Public Health and Research Centre, LEPRA Society, Cherlapally, Hyderabad, 501301, India. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  Tuberculosis is the most common infectious reason for death and a major cause of pleural effusion globally. To understand the role of chemokines in trafficking of cells during TB pleurisy, we studied the responses to MTB, Ag85A in cells from pleural fluids and peripheral blood. Patients with TB pleural effusions, malignant effusions and asymptomatic healthy controls were enrolled. High expression (p &lt; 0.05) of IP-10, MCP-1, MIG, IL-8, IFN-Œ≥ and IL-23 were observed in pleural fluids of TB patients compared to their plasma where expression of RANTES was significantly higher (p &lt; 0.05). On specific stimulation of PFMCs with Ag85A, expression of RANTES was significantly lower in TB compared to NTB patients. We also observed increased expression of T regs and PD1 on CD8+T cells in PFMC of TB patients. Though some of the inflammatory chemokine/cytokines were up-regulated in pleura of TB patients, antigenic stimulation failed to induce them indicating poor antigenic responses at the site. Low expression of RANTES might be a reason for decreased trafficking of cells to the site and dissemination of infection into pleural site. The pattern of RANTES expression in pleural fluid vs serum is interesting. The observations necessitate further studies to investigate the levels of RANTES for its potential biological relevance in TB immunity and its use as a biomarker for diagnosis of pleural TB. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
  Figure 7C, dataset duplicate , 
 Correction, 23 March 2022: https: www.sciencedirect.com science article pii S1472979222000348?via%3Dihub  *The authors regret minor errors in the data presented in Figure 7. Data was presented erroneously in Figures 7C, E and F. Below are the corrected figures *  *Corrected text in the section 3.7 of results: Significant increase in expression of CD3+CD8+ T cells (CTL) in TB patients was observed compared to non-TB group, when PFMC and PBMC were analyzed. PD1 (apoptotic marker) expression on CD8+ T cells (CTL) was significantly higher in TB-PFMC compared to non-TB-PFMC. These corrections in the data and text do not have any impact on the inferences from this study. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.* ,