Immune Responses to Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

This study, conducted at the University of Mali in the capital city of Bamako, will investigate how the body reacts to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the organism that causes tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a major global health problem whose solution requires development of an effective vaccine. However, incomplete understanding of how immunity to MTB is acquired and measured limits vaccine development. This study will focus on certain immune system cells - CD4+ T cells - that appear to be very important in fighting tuberculosis.

Individuals 16 years of age and older who have or have not been exposed to either tuberculosis or HIV, or both, may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood tests, review of medical records and laboratory tests, and, if medically indicated, a chest x-ray. Individuals whose medical records indicate a past history of tuberculosis or a positive test for exposure to tuberculosis will have a tuberculin skin test. For this test, a few drops of fluid are placed under the skin to see if the immune system reacts to the substance, indicating previous exposure to MTB.

Participants will come to the University of Mali 10 times over a 1-year period - 7 times within the first 3 months of the study and then once every 3 months until 1 year after enrollment. At each study visit, they will be asked about their medical history and will donate 75 milliliters (about 1/3 cup) of blood, totaling 830 mL over the entire year. More blood may be requested if the participant's immune system reacts strongly to MTB in laboratory tests. No more than 450 mL (2 cups) of blood would be collected every 6 weeks; this amount is the Red Cross limit for regular blood donations every 6 weeks.

The blood samples will be used for tests that measure the level of immunity to tuberculosis. Genetic tests may be performed on blood cells to help interpret special tests of immunity. Because HIV-infected people are included in the study, the findings may also provide information on how HIV renders vulnerability to opportunistic infections, including tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is a daunting global health problem. The solution requires development of an effective vaccine. But incomplete understanding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) immunity-how it is acquired, how it is measured-limits vaccine development to empiric rather than rational approaches. New perspectives are needed. Most individuals infected with MTB never actually develop active tuberculosis. Similarly, most individuals with treated tuberculosis or BCG vaccination are also protected from subsequent disease. These individuals may be said to be immune. One approach to obtaining greater understanding of MTB immunity is to study these individuals to discover mechanisms of immunity that mediate their protection from disease. Because it is already known that CD4+ T cells are a critical component of MTB immunity, studying CD4+ T cell responses to MTB infection in immune individuals is a reasonable starting point. To determine which CD4+ T cell subsets and which CD4+ T cell immune responses are important, we will compare individuals with prior exposure (immunity) to MTB to individuals with active tuberculosis. Because HIV infection interferes with the CD4+ T cell response to MTB, it dramatically increases the risks for acquiring MTB infection and for developing disease. Under these circumstances it is easier to discern mechanisms relevant to MTB immunity because of exaggerated MTB-specific responses. In this study we aim to identify CD4+ T cell subsets and responses that correlate with MTB immunity. We anticipate that these correlations will yield new insight into mechanisms of MTB immunity that will be relevant to vaccine development. In addition, by examining MTB immunity in the setting of HIV coinfection, we anticipate new insights into mechanisms of how HIV causes disease.