HLA-DR2 PHENOTYPE AND PLASMA LYSOZYME, BETA-GLUCURONIDASE AND ACID-PHOSPHATASE LEVELS IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

SETTING: Tuberculosis Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Resea rch, Madras, India. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the role of HLA-Class II g enes/gene products on phagocyte enzymes such as lysozyme, beta-glucuro nidase and acid phosphatase in the plasma of pulmonary tuberculosis pa tients. DESIGN: Serological determination of HLA-DR and -DQ antigens w as carried out in 54 active and 84 inactive pulmonary tuberculosis (qu iescent) patients and 36 healthy control subjects. The levels of lysoz yme, beta-glucuronidase and acid phosphatase were measured in the plas ma of tuberculosis patients and control subjects. RESULTS: Increased l ysozyme levels were observed in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients . beta-glucuronidase activity was higher in inactive-TB than in active -TB patients and control subjects. HLA-DR2 positive patients showed a lower lysozyme level than -DR2 negative patients. CONCLUSION: Increase in the plasma lysozyme level in active TB reveals the active stage of the disease. Further, increase in the activity of beta-glucuronidase in inactive-TB patients reveals the quiescent stage of the disease. Th e low level of lysozyme in HLA-DR2 positive patients may also be one o f the possible factors involved in susceptibility to tuberculosis.