Factors of Suppression of Immune Response in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Eosinophilia.

We studied possible mechanisms of immunosuppression mediated by regulatory T cells that promotes suppression of antigen-specific immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and eosinophilia. It was shown that the number of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells with immunosuppressive activity (Treg) increased in the peripheral blood of patients with disseminated destructive forms of pulmonary tuberculosis with multiple resistance of the causative agent to antituberculosis substances and eosinophilia. These changes were accompanied by imbalance in secretion of Treg-associated cytokines (in vitro) manifested in hyperproduction of TGFβ and IL-10 and decreased production of IL-2.