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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Neutrophils are the predominant infected phagocytic cells in the airways of patients with active pulmonary TB
Chest, Volume 137, No. 1, Year 2010
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Description
Background: The exact role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of TB is poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that neutrophils are not simply scavenging phagocytes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. Methods: Three different types of clinical specimens from patients with active pulmonary TB who underwent lung surgery were examined: sputum, BAL fluid, and cavity contents. Differential cell separation and quantification were performed for intracellular and extracellular bacteria, and bacterial length was measured using microscopy. Results: Neutrophils were more abundant than macrophages in sputum (86.6% ± 2.2% vs 8.4% ± 1.3%) and in BAL fluid (78.8% ± 5.8% vs 11.8% ± 4.1%). Inside the cavity, lymphocytes (41.3% ± 11.2%) were the most abundant cell type, followed by neutrophils (38.8% ± 9.4%) and macrophages (19.5% ± 7.5%). More intracellular bacilli were found in neutrophils than macrophages in sputum (67.6% ± 5.6% vs 25.2% ± 6.5%), in BAL fluid (65.1% ± 14.4% vs 28.3% ± 11.6%), and in cavities (61.8% ± 13.3% vs 23.9% ± 9.3%). The lengths of Mtb were shortest in cavities (1.9 ± 0.1 m m), followed by in sputum (2.9 ± 0.1 m m) and in BAL fluid (3.6 ± 0.2 m m). Conclusions: Our results show that neutrophils are the predominant cell types infected with Mtb in patients with TB and that these intracellular bacteria appear to replicate rapidly. These results are consistent with a role for neutrophils in providing a permissive site for a final burst of active replication of the bacilli prior to transmission. © 2010 American College of Chest Physicians.
Authors & Co-Authors
Eum, Seokyong
South Korea, Masan
International Tuberculosis Research Center
Hwang, Soohee
South Korea, Masan
National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital
Cho, Sangnae Ray
South Korea, Seoul
Yonsei University
Via, L. E.
United States, Bethesda
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Niaid
Barry, Clifton Earl
United States, Bethesda
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Niaid
Statistics
Citations: 454
Authors: 5
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1378/chest.09-0903
ISSN:
00123692
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases