Active tuberculosis patients have high systemic IgG levels and B-cell fingerprinting, characterized by a reduced capacity to produce IFN-γ or IL-10 as a response to M.tb antigens

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). B cells are the central mediator of the humoral response; they are responsible for producing antibodies in addition to mediating other functions. The role of the cellular response during the TB spectrum by B cells is still controversial.

Methods: In this study, we evaluated the distribution of the circulating B cell subsets in patients with active and latent TB (ATB and LTB, respectively) and how they respond to stimuli of protein or lipid from M.tb.

Results: Here, we show that ATB patients show an immune fingerprinting. However, patients with drug-sensitive- (DS-TB) or drug-resistant- (DR-TB) TB have altered frequencies of circulating B cells. DS-TB and DR-TB display a unique profile characterized by high systemic levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, IgG, IgG/IgM ratio, and total B cells. Moreover, B cells from DR-TB are less efficient in producing IL-10, and both DS-TB and DR-TB produce less IFN-γ in response to M.tb antigens.

Conclusion: These results provide new insights into the population dynamics of the cellular immune response by B cells against M.tb and suggest a fingerprinting to characterize the B-cell response on DR-TB.

Keywords: B cells; IFN-g; IL-10; flow cytometry; humoral immunity; tuberculosis.