Increased expression of mRNA encoding interleukin (IL)-4 and its splice variant IL-4delta2 in cells from contacts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in the absence of in vitro stimulation.

Journal article

Expression of interleukin (IL)-4 is increased in tuberculosis and thought to be detrimental. We show here that in healthy contacts there is increased expression of its naturally occurring antagonist, IL-4delta2 (IL-4delta2). We identified contacts by showing that their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) released interferon (IFN)-gamma in response to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigen 6 kDa early secretory antigenic target (ESAT-6). Fresh unstimulated PBMC from these contac...

Expand abstract

Authors: Fletcher, H; Owiafe, P; Jeffries, D; Hill, P; Rook, G

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Immunology
• Volume: 112
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 669-673
• Publication date: 2004-08-01
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2004.01922.x
• EISSN: 1365-2567
• ISSN: 0019-2805
• Language: English
• Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Gene Expression; RNA, Messenger; Alternative Splicing; Bacterial Proteins; Interleukin-4; Disease Progression; Antigens, Bacterial; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Humans; Female; Adolescent; Middle Aged; Vacsel Study Group; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary; Adult; Male; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Aged