The Role of IFN-Gamma and IL-10 in Clinical Outcome of Tuberculosis

The peripheral blood cells'' capacity to produce pro-inflammatory (TNF-alpha, IL-12, IFN-gamma) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines in response to intracellular bacteria, like Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, play key role in protection from and pathogenesis of mycobacterial infection, and their balance and dynamic changes may control or predict clinical outcome of disease. IFN-gamma and IL-10 serum levels were evaluated, by ELISAmethod, in some complicated cases of tuberculosis (TB) patients who were resistant to therapy. IFN-gamma serum level was decreased and production of IL-10 was increased during active TB in patiens who were resistant to therapy compared to controls. IFN-gamma/IL-10 ratio''s has significant correlation with TB-cure in these patients. Decline of IFN-gamma, as a pro-inflammatory cytokine and increasing IL-10, as an anti-inflammatoy cytokine could be appropriate indexes of clinical outcome of TB.