Activation of peripheral blood neutrophils from patients with active advanced tuberculosis

Activation of peripheral blood neutrophils (PMN) was investigated in order to determine whether they might contribute to the inflammatory process duri ng active advanced tuberculosis. Receptors for the Fc portion of IgG (Fc ga mmaR) (Fc gamma RI, Fc gamma RII, and Fc gamma RIIIB), CD66 (degranulation marker), and receptors for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-R55 and TNF-R75 ) were analyzed on PMN obtained from normal controls and tuberculosis patie nts (TB-PMN). Functional parameters such as cytotoxicity, superoxide anion generation triggered by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine (FMLP), an d TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta production were evaluated, A high expression of T NF-R55, CD66, and Fc gamma RIIIB and the appearance of Fc gamma RI were det ected in TB-PMN. In addition, cytotoxicity, superoxide anion release, and T NF-LY and IL-1 beta production were enhanced in TB-PMN. Thus, in tuberculos is, the activation of PMN outside the focus of infection strongly suggests the possibility of a systemic inflammation that could modulate the inflamma tory response. (C) 2001 Academic Press.