Full Text Available

Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.

Cytokines and tuberculosis : an investigation of tuberculous lung tissue and a comparison with sarcoidosis

Thesis (PhD (Pathology. Anatgomical Pathology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Bezuidenhout, Juanita
Other Authors: Walzl, Gerhard
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Biomedical Sciences. 2008
Subjects:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1867613880563269632
access_status_str Open Access
author Bezuidenhout, Juanita
author2 Walzl, Gerhard
author_browse Bezuidenhout, Juanita
Walzl, Gerhard
author_facet Walzl, Gerhard
Bezuidenhout, Juanita
author_sort Bezuidenhout, Juanita
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv University of Stellenbosch
description Thesis (PhD (Pathology. Anatgomical Pathology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1453
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:43:10.408Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2008
publishDateRange 2008
publishDateSort 2008
publisher University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Biomedical Sciences.
publisherStr University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Biomedical Sciences.
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1453 Cytokines and tuberculosis : an investigation of tuberculous lung tissue and a comparison with sarcoidosis Bezuidenhout, Juanita Walzl, Gerhard University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Pathology. Anatomical Pathology. Dissertations -- Anatomical pathology Theses -- Anatomical pathology Tuberculosis Cytokines Sarcoidosis Granuloma Thesis (PhD (Pathology. Anatgomical Pathology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. The formation of granulomas at the site of antigen presentation in both tuberculosis and sarcoidosis is an essential component of host immunity for controlling inflammation. Granuloma formation is a complex process that also requires recruitment and activation of lymphocytes and macrophages to the site of infection and arrangement into a granuloma. It is dependant on the activation of especially IFNγ secreting CD4+ T cells, resulting in a Th1 profile. However, it is suggested that a persistently high IFNγ is responsible for the damage caused by granulomatous disease and that moderating cytokines, resulting in a Th0 profile, are necessary to down-regulate the IFNγ response to more appropriate levels later in the disease process, after the antigen has been effectively contained. I propose that: “Cytokine profiles determine clinical and histopathological phenotypes of disease. This thesis tests the hypothesis that it will be reflected by cytokine expression profiles in granulomas in different forms of tuberculosis and in sarcoidosis.” To examine this, biopsy tissue was obtained from patients with pulmonary cavitary tuberculosis, pleural tuberculosis in HIV sero-negative and sero-positive patients, and sarcoidosis. The diagnosis of tuberculosis or sarcoidosis was confirmed, granulomas were characterised as necrotic or non-necrotic, sarcoidosis cases were graded histologically and in situ hybridisation was performed for IL-12-, IFNγ-, TNFα- and IL-4-mRNA. In all patients with pleural tuberculosis, a Th0 profile was noted, while necrotic granulomas were more evident in HIV positive than HIV negative patients. There was a clear association between TNFα and necrosis in tuberculous granulomas that may be ascribed to the increased apoptotic activity of TNFα. An increase in IFNγ correlated with an increase in necrosis, supporting the theory that high IFNγ levels later in disease is detrimental. This effect may be enhanced by a strong presence of TNFα positive cells. An increase in both Th1 and Th2 cytokine mRNA in HIV positive patients supports the theory that an overproduction of cytokines may be a mechanism to compensate for the failure of another immune effector mechanism. Findings in pulmonary tuberculosis were similar to those in pleural tuberculosis. In all sarcoidosis cases the presence of a very strong Th1 and TNFα, but no Th0 response was confirmed. None of the differences in either the histological grading, or the clinical outcome of patients were reflected in the cytokine profile. It is possible that this profile does not reflect the histological grade of disease or that it may reflect various stages of disease. These findings support the theory that a strong Th1 presence later in disease, in conjunction with TNFα may induce fibrosis, as most of these cases showed signs of at least focal fibrosis. Numerous aspects, including a T helper response are involved in granulomatous inflammation. The earlier dogma of good, beneficial (Th1) versus evil, detrimental (Th2), is an oversimplification of a very complex process. It is clear that the effect of a cytokine depends at least partially on the stage of disease. The balance between the various cytokines, and the levels of these cytokines contribute to their role in resolution or disease progression. An early, pure Th1 response may be beneficial if effectively clearing the granuloma-inducing antigen. At this stage, a Th2 presence will be harmful as clearing of the antigen will not be as effective. In chronic disease where failure to remove the antigen results in progression of granulomas with subsequent necrosis and/or fibrosis, a proinflammatory Th1 response may be detrimental and minimising of this effect is needed. An overly strong presence of the various cytokines may also be detrimental, while lower levels will be beneficial. Doctoral 2008-06-30T12:08:32Z 2010-06-01T08:21:59Z 2008-06-30T12:08:32Z 2010-06-01T08:21:59Z 2005-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1453 en University of Stellenbosch application/pdf University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Health Sciences. Dept. of Biomedical Sciences.
spellingShingle Dissertations -- Anatomical pathology
Theses -- Anatomical pathology
Tuberculosis
Cytokines
Sarcoidosis
Granuloma
Bezuidenhout, Juanita
Cytokines and tuberculosis : an investigation of tuberculous lung tissue and a comparison with sarcoidosis
title Cytokines and tuberculosis : an investigation of tuberculous lung tissue and a comparison with sarcoidosis
title_full Cytokines and tuberculosis : an investigation of tuberculous lung tissue and a comparison with sarcoidosis
title_fullStr Cytokines and tuberculosis : an investigation of tuberculous lung tissue and a comparison with sarcoidosis
title_full_unstemmed Cytokines and tuberculosis : an investigation of tuberculous lung tissue and a comparison with sarcoidosis
title_short Cytokines and tuberculosis : an investigation of tuberculous lung tissue and a comparison with sarcoidosis
title_sort cytokines and tuberculosis an investigation of tuberculous lung tissue and a comparison with sarcoidosis
topic Dissertations -- Anatomical pathology
Theses -- Anatomical pathology
Tuberculosis
Cytokines
Sarcoidosis
Granuloma
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1453
work_keys_str_mv AT bezuidenhoutjuanita cytokinesandtuberculosisaninvestigationoftuberculouslungtissueandacomparisonwithsarcoidosis