1
|
Yao S, Liu B, Hu X, Tan Y, Liu K, He M, Wu B, Ahmad N, Su X, Zhang Y, Yi M. Diagnostic value of microRNAs in active tuberculosis based on quantitative and enrichment analyses. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2024; 108:116172. [PMID: 38340483 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) infection remains a crucial global health challenge, with active tuberculosis (ATB) representing main infection source. MicroRNA (miRNA) has emerged as a potential diagnostic tool in this context. This study aims to identify candidate miRNAs for ATB diagnosis and explore their possible mechanisms. METHODS Differentially expressed miRNAs in ATB were summarized in qualitative analysis. The diagnostic values of miRNAs for ATB subtypes were assessed by overall sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve. Additionally, we conducted enrichment analysis on miRNAs and target genes. RESULTS Over 100 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified, with miR-29 family being the most extensively studied. The miR-29 family demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve of 80 %, 80 % and 0.86 respectively for active pulmonary TB (PTB). The differentially expressed miR-29-target genes in PTB were enriched in immune-related pathways. CONCLUSIONS The miR-29 family exhibits good diagnostic value for active PTB and shows association with immune process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuoyi Yao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xinyue Hu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yun Tan
- School of Medicine, Changsha Social Work College, Changsha, China
| | - Kun Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Meng He
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bohan Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Namra Ahmad
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoli Su
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Minhan Yi
- School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Druszczyńska M, Godkowicz M, Kulesza J, Wawrocki S, Fol M. Cytokine Receptors-Regulators of Antimycobacterial Immune Response. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:1112. [PMID: 35163035 PMCID: PMC8835057 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokine receptors are critical regulators of the antimycobacterial immune response, playing a key role in initiating and coordinating the recruitment and activation of immune cells during infection. They recognize and bind specific cytokines and are involved in inducing intracellular signal transduction pathways that regulate a diverse range of biological functions, including proliferation, differentiation, metabolism and cell growth. Due to mutations in cytokine receptor genes, defective signaling may contribute to increased susceptibility to mycobacteria, allowing the pathogens to avoid killing and immune surveillance. This paper provides an overview of cytokine receptors important for the innate and adaptive immune responses against mycobacteria and discusses the implications of receptor gene defects for the course of mycobacterial infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Druszczyńska
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland; (M.G.); (S.W.); (M.F.)
| | - Magdalena Godkowicz
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland; (M.G.); (S.W.); (M.F.)
- Lodz Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, The Bio-Med-Chem Doctoral School, University of Lodz, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
| | - Jakub Kulesza
- Department of Internal Diseases and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lodz, Kniaziewicza 1/5, 91-347 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Sebastian Wawrocki
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland; (M.G.); (S.W.); (M.F.)
- Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), University of Zurich, 7265 Davos, Switzerland
| | - Marek Fol
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland; (M.G.); (S.W.); (M.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Marion MC, Ramos PS, Bachali P, Labonte AC, Zimmerman KD, Ainsworth HC, Heuer SE, Robl RD, Catalina MD, Kelly JA, Howard TD, Lipsky PE, Grammer AC, Langefeld CD. Nucleic Acid-Sensing and Interferon-Inducible Pathways Show Differential Methylation in MZ Twins Discordant for Lupus and Overexpression in Independent Lupus Samples: Implications for Pathogenic Mechanism and Drug Targeting. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12121898. [PMID: 34946847 PMCID: PMC8701117 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multisystem, autoimmune inflammatory disease with genomic and non-genomic contributions to risk. We hypothesize that epigenetic factors are a significant contributor to SLE risk and may be informative for identifying pathogenic mechanisms and therapeutic targets. To test this hypothesis while controlling for genetic background, we performed an epigenome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in genomic DNA from whole blood in three pairs of female monozygotic (MZ) twins of European ancestry, discordant for SLE. Results were replicated on the same array in four cell types from a set of four Danish female MZ twin pairs discordant for SLE. Genes implicated by the epigenetic analyses were then evaluated in 10 independent SLE gene expression datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). There were 59 differentially methylated loci between unaffected and affected MZ twins in whole blood, including 11 novel loci. All but two of these loci were hypomethylated in the SLE twins relative to the unaffected twins. The genes harboring these hypomethylated loci exhibited increased expression in multiple independent datasets of SLE patients. This pattern was largely consistent regardless of disease activity, cell type, or renal tissue type. The genes proximal to CpGs exhibiting differential methylation (DM) in the SLE-discordant MZ twins and exhibiting differential expression (DE) in independent SLE GEO cohorts (DM-DE genes) clustered into two pathways: the nucleic acid-sensing pathway and the type I interferon pathway. The DM-DE genes were also informatically queried for potential gene–drug interactions, yielding a list of 41 drugs including a known SLE therapy. The DM-DE genes delineate two important biologic pathways that are not only reflective of the heterogeneity of SLE but may also correlate with distinct IFN responses that depend on the source, type, and location of nucleic acid molecules and the activated receptors in individual patients. Cell- and tissue-specific analyses will be critical to the understanding of genetic factors dysregulating the nucleic acid-sensing and IFN pathways and whether these factors could be appropriate targets for therapeutic intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miranda C. Marion
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (M.C.M.); (H.C.A.)
- Center for Precision Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA;
| | - Paula S. Ramos
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
| | - Prathyusha Bachali
- AMPEL BioSolutions, LLC and RILITE Research Institute, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA; (P.B.); (A.C.L.); (S.E.H.); (R.D.R.); (M.D.C.); (P.E.L.); (A.C.G.)
| | - Adam C. Labonte
- AMPEL BioSolutions, LLC and RILITE Research Institute, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA; (P.B.); (A.C.L.); (S.E.H.); (R.D.R.); (M.D.C.); (P.E.L.); (A.C.G.)
| | - Kip D. Zimmerman
- Center for Precision Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA;
| | - Hannah C. Ainsworth
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (M.C.M.); (H.C.A.)
- Center for Precision Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA;
| | - Sarah E. Heuer
- AMPEL BioSolutions, LLC and RILITE Research Institute, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA; (P.B.); (A.C.L.); (S.E.H.); (R.D.R.); (M.D.C.); (P.E.L.); (A.C.G.)
- The Jackson Laboratory, Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Robert D. Robl
- AMPEL BioSolutions, LLC and RILITE Research Institute, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA; (P.B.); (A.C.L.); (S.E.H.); (R.D.R.); (M.D.C.); (P.E.L.); (A.C.G.)
| | - Michelle D. Catalina
- AMPEL BioSolutions, LLC and RILITE Research Institute, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA; (P.B.); (A.C.L.); (S.E.H.); (R.D.R.); (M.D.C.); (P.E.L.); (A.C.G.)
| | - Jennifer A. Kelly
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA;
| | - Timothy D. Howard
- Department of Biochemistry, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA;
| | - Peter E. Lipsky
- AMPEL BioSolutions, LLC and RILITE Research Institute, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA; (P.B.); (A.C.L.); (S.E.H.); (R.D.R.); (M.D.C.); (P.E.L.); (A.C.G.)
| | - Amrie C. Grammer
- AMPEL BioSolutions, LLC and RILITE Research Institute, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA; (P.B.); (A.C.L.); (S.E.H.); (R.D.R.); (M.D.C.); (P.E.L.); (A.C.G.)
| | - Carl D. Langefeld
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA; (M.C.M.); (H.C.A.)
- Center for Precision Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA;
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Leukocytes from Patients with Drug-Sensitive and Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Exhibit Distinctive Profiles of Chemokine Receptor Expression and Migration Capacity. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:6654220. [PMID: 33977111 PMCID: PMC8084684 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6654220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains as a leading infectious cause of death worldwide. The increasing number of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) cases contributes to the poor control of the TB epidemic. Currently, little is known about the immunological requirements of protective responses against MDR-TB. This is of major relevance to identify immune markers for treatment monitoring and targets for adjuvant immunotherapies. Here, we hypothesized that MDR-TB patients display unique immunophenotypical features and immune cell migration dynamics compared to drug-sensitive TB (DS-TB). Hence, we prospectively conducted an extensive characterization of the immune profile of MDR-TB patients at different time points before and after pharmacological therapy. For this purpose, we focused on the leukocyte expression of chemokine receptors, distribution of different monocyte and lymphocyte subsets, plasma levels of chemotactic factors, and in vitro migration capacity of immune cells. Our comparative cohort consisted of DS-TB patients and healthy volunteer donors (HD). Our results demonstrate some unique features of leukocyte migration dynamics during MDR-TB. These include increased and prolonged circulation of CD3+ monocytes, CCR4+ monocytes, EM CD4+ T cells, EM/CM CD8+ T cells, and CXCR1+CXCR3+ T cells that is sustained even after the administration of anti-TB drugs. We also observed shared characteristics of both MDR-TB and DS-TB that include CCR2+ monocyte depletion in the blood; high plasma levels of MPC-1, CCL-7, and IP-10; and increased responsiveness of leukocytes to chemotactic signals in vitro. Our study contributes to a better understanding of the MDR-TB pathobiology and uncovers immunological readouts of treatment efficacy.
Collapse
|
5
|
Naz F, Arish M. GPCRs as an emerging host-directed therapeutic target against mycobacterial infection: From notion to reality. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 179:4899-4909. [PMID: 33150959 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) is one of the successful pathogens and claim millions of deaths across the globe. The emergence of drug resistance in M. tb has created new hurdles in the tuberculosis elimination programme worldwide. Hence, there is an unmet medical need for alternative therapy, which could be achieved by targeting the host's critical signalling pathways that are compromised during M. tb infection. In this review, we have summarized some of the findings involving the modulation of host GPCRs in the regulation of the mycobacterial infection. Understanding the role of these GPCRs not only unravels signalling pathways during infection but also provides clues for targeting critical signalling intermediates for the development of GPCR-based host-directive therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farha Naz
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Science, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India
| | - Mohd Arish
- JH-Institute of Molecular Medicine, Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard Nagar, New Delhi, 110062, India.,Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Anuradha R, Munisankar S, Bhootra Y, Kumar NP, Dolla C, Babu S. Malnutrition is associated with diminished baseline and mycobacterial antigen - stimulated chemokine responses in latent tuberculosis infection. J Infect 2018; 77:410-416. [PMID: 29777718 PMCID: PMC6340055 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2018.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous studies have demonstrated a diminution in the baseline and mycobacterial antigen - specific cytokines in low body mass index (LBMI) individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). We hypothesized that LBMI might be also associated with alteration in the baseline and antigen - stimulated levels of chemokines in LTBI. METHODS To test this hypothesis, we examined baseline, TB-antigen and mitogen stimulated levels of chemokines in these individuals and compared them with those with LTBI and normal BMI (NBMI). RESULTS LBMI with LTBI is characterized by diminished baseline levels of CCL1, CCL4, CCL11, CXCL1, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11 in comparison to NBMI with LTBI. Similarly, LTBI with LBMI is also characterized by diminished TB-antigen stimulated levels of CCL1, CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL11, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CXCL11. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the mitogen stimulated chemokine levels between the groups. Finally, there was a significant positive correlation between BMI and CCL1, CCL4, CCL11, CXCL11, CXCL2, CXCL9 and CXCL11 levels in LTBI individuals. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, our data reveal that LTBI subjects with low BMI are characterized by diminished levels of a variety of important chemokines, providing a novel biological mechanism for the increased risk of developing active TB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rajamanickam Anuradha
- National Institutes of Health-NIRT-International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India
| | - Saravanan Munisankar
- National Institutes of Health-NIRT-International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India
| | - Yukthi Bhootra
- National Institutes of Health-NIRT-International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India
| | - Nathella Pavan Kumar
- National Institutes of Health-NIRT-International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India
| | | | - Subash Babu
- National Institutes of Health-NIRT-International Center for Excellence in Research, Chennai, India.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yang T, Ge B. miRNAs in immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Cancer Lett 2018; 431:22-30. [PMID: 29803788 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most fatal infectious diseases, affecting one third of the world's population. The causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), has a well-established ability to circumvent the host's immune system for its long-term intracellular survival. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are crucial post-transcriptional regulators of immune response. They act by negatively regulating the expression levels of important genes in both innate and adaptive immunity. It has been established in recent studies that the host immune response against Mtb is regulated by many miRNAs, most of which are induced by Mtb infection. Moreover, differential expression of miRNA in tuberculosis (TB) patients may help distinguish between TB patients and healthy individuals or latent TB. In this review, we present the recent advancements on the miRNA regulation of the host responses against Mtb infection, as well as the potential of miRNAs to as biomarkers for TB diagnosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianshu Yang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tongji University Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Baoxue Ge
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tuberculosis, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tongji University Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Alaridah N, Lutay N, Tenland E, Rönnholm A, Hallgren O, Puthia M, Westergren-Thorsson G, Godaly G. Mycobacteria Manipulate G-Protein-Coupled Receptors to Increase Mucosal Rac1 Expression in the Lungs. J Innate Immun 2016; 9:318-329. [PMID: 28013312 DOI: 10.1159/000453454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is currently the only approved vaccine against tuberculosis (TB). BCG mimics M. tuberculosis (Mtb) in its persistence in the body and is used as a benchmark to compare new vaccine candidates. BCG was originally designed for mucosal vaccination, but comprehensive knowledge about its interaction with epithelium is currently lacking. We used primary airway epithelial cells (AECs) and a murine model to investigate the initial events of mucosal BCG interactions. Furthermore, we analysed the impact of the G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), CXCR1 and CXCR2, in this process, as these receptors were previously shown to be important during TB infection. BCG infection of AECs induced GPCR-dependent Rac1 up-regulation, resulting in actin redistribution. The altered distribution of the actin cytoskeleton involved the MAPK signalling pathway. Blocking of the CXCR1 or CXCR2 prior to infection decreased Rac1 expression, and increased epithelial transcriptional activity and epithelial cytokine production. BCG infection did not result in epithelial cell death as measured by p53 phosphorylation and annexin. This study demonstrated that BCG infection of AECs manipulated the GPCRs to suppress epithelial signalling pathways. Future vaccine strategies could thus be improved by targeting GPCRs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nader Alaridah
- Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of MIG, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Domingo-Gonzalez R, Prince O, Cooper A, Khader SA. Cytokines and Chemokines in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection. Microbiol Spectr 2016; 4:10.1128/microbiolspec.TBTB2-0018-2016. [PMID: 27763255 PMCID: PMC5205539 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.tbtb2-0018-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemokines and cytokines are critical for initiating and coordinating the organized and sequential recruitment and activation of cells into Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected lungs. Correct mononuclear cellular recruitment and localization are essential to ensure control of bacterial growth without the development of diffuse and damaging granulocytic inflammation. An important block to our understanding of TB pathogenesis lies in dissecting the critical aspects of the cytokine/chemokine interplay in light of the conditional role these molecules play throughout infection and disease development. Much of the data highlighted in this review appears at first glance to be contradictory, but it is the balance between the cytokines and chemokines that is critical, and the "goldilocks" (not too much and not too little) phenomenon is paramount in any discussion of the role of these molecules in TB. Determination of how the key chemokines/cytokines and their receptors are balanced and how the loss of that balance can promote disease is vital to understanding TB pathogenesis and to identifying novel therapies for effective eradication of this disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Oliver Prince
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Andrea Cooper
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | - Shabaana A Khader
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| |
Collapse
|