Numbers of IFN-gamma-producing cells against ESAT-6 increase in tuberculosis patients during chemotherapy

ESAT-6 is a specific Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex antigen and strong inducer of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by T cells from tubercul osis patient T-cells. We studied the frequency of IFN-gamma producing cells reacting to ESAT-6 during anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy. The numbers of I FN-gamma producing cells in the peripheral blood were higher in tuberculosi s patients after discharge from specific anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, co mpared with untreated patients. These results indicate that monitoring spec ific M. tuberculosis antigen reactivity during anti-tuberculosis chemothera py may avoid premature termination of treatment and resistant strains.