Dominant expansion of CD4(+), CD8(+) T and NK cells expressing Th1/Tc1/Type 1 cytokines in culture-positive lymph node tuberculosis

Lymph node culture-positive tuberculosis (LNTB+) is associated with increased mycobacterial antigen-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production compared to LN culture-negative tuberculosis (LNTB-). However, the frequencies of CD4(+), CD8(+) T cells and NK cells expressing Th1/Tc1/Type 1 (IFNγ, TNFα, IL-2), Th17/Tc17/Type 17 (IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22) cytokines and cytotoxic (perforin [PFN], granzyme [GZE] B, CD107a) markers in LNTB+ and LNTB- individuals are not known. Thus, we have studied the unstimulated (UNS) and mycobacterial antigen-induced frequencies of CD4(+), CD8(+) T and NK cells expressing Th1, Th17 cytokines and cytotoxic markers using flow cytometry. The frequencies of CD4(+), CD8(+) T and NK cells expressing cytokines and cytotoxic markers were not significantly different between LNTB+ and LNTB- individuals in UNS condition. In contrast, upon Mtb antigen stimulation, LNTB+ individuals are associated with significantly increased frequencies of CD4(+) T cells (PPD [IFNγ, TNFα], ESAT-6 PP [IFNγ, TNFα], CFP-10 PP [IFNγ, TNFα, IL-2]), CD8(+) T cells (PPD [IFNγ], ESAT-6 PP [IFNγ], CFP-10 PP [TNFα]) and NK cells (PPD [IFNγ, TNFα], ESAT-6 PP [IFNγ, TNFα], CFP-10 PP [TNFα]) expressing Th1/Tc1/Type 1, but not Th17/Tc17/Type 17 cytokines and cytotoxic markers compared to LNTB- individuals. LNTB+ individuals did not show any significant alterations in the frequencies of CD4(+), CD8(+) T cells and NK cells expressing cytokines and cytotoxic markers compared to LNTB- individuals upon HIV Gag PP and P/I antigen stimulation. Increased frequencies of CD4(+), CD8(+) T and NK cells expressing Th1/Tc1/Type 1 cytokines among the LNTB+ group indicates that the presence of mycobacteria plays a dominant role in the activation of key correlates of immune protection or induces higher immunopathology.