Macrophage profiles in drug-resistant tuberculosis patients and their close contacts: A pilot study.

Macrophages play a key role in controlling tuberculosis infection. This pilot study aimed to analyze the macrophage profile in drug-resistant tuberculosis patients compared to a group of close contacts diagnosed with latent infection and a group of healthy. The Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) was tested on the close contact group to determine their infection status. PBMCs were cultured using RPMI 1640 medium with M-CSF and autologous serum, incubated for 7 days at 37C with 5 % COIncubator. Macrophage profiles were analyzed using the flow cytometry technique with CD68, CD80, CD206markers, and the cytokine profiles were analyzed using multiplex immunoassay. The results of the IGRA showed that of the 18 close contact subjects, 8 subjects (44.4 %) were declared latent infected (LTBI) and 10 subjects (55.6 %) were declared healthy. The results showed that the macrophage population exhibit CD206expression in each group, which showed a tendency for macrophages toward the M2 type (Kruskal-Wallis, p > 0.05). Cytokine examination showed high IL-10 levels in each group (Kruskal-Wallis, p > 0.05). This research is expected to provide information regarding the characteristics of macrophages as components of innate immune cells which have an important role in tuberculosis infection.