Difference in mononuclear cell cytokine profile of tuberculosis patients before and after treatment and its influence on in vitro multinucleate giant cell formation

The present study focuses on correlation of in vitro multinucleate giant cell (MGC) forming ability with cytokine production in case of tuberculosis patients before and after treatment. In vitro MGC formation was carried out by treating monocytes with culture supernatant of Con A or PPD stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells. MGC formation was significantly lower for monocytes of untreated patients compared to control monocytes when incubated with respective autologous culture supernatant. MGC forming ability increased significantly for monocytes of treated patients incubated with autologous culture supernatant at the end of two months of treatment. Analysis of the supernatants revealed higher IL-10 levels and lower IFN-γ and IL-2 levels in untreated patients compared to treated patients and controls. The findings suggest that changes in IL-10, IFN-γ and IL-2 levels produced by mononuclear cells of patients before and after treatment might influence the functionality of monocytes and thereby the pathology of tuberculosis.