Cytokine Response to Antigen Stimulation of Whole Blood from Patients with Mycobacterium ulcerans Disease Compared to That from Patients with Tuberculosis

• DOI: 10.1128/cvi.13.2.253-257.2006
• Publication Date: 2006-02-08T07:07:43Z
• Authors: R. Phillips; C. Horsfield; S. Kuijper; S. F. Sarfo; J. Obeng-Baah; S. Etuaful; B. Nyamekye; P. Awuah; K. M. Nyarko; F. Osei-Sarpong; S. Lucas; A. H. J. Kolk; M. Wansbrough-Jones
• Keywords: Mycobacterium ulcerans; Buruli ulcer

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium ulcerans disease (Buruli ulcer) is a skin-ulcerating infection common in some parts of the tropics. We have investigated cytokine secretion after stimulation whole blood from Buruli ulcer (BU) patients region endemicity Ghana with M. sonicate or culture filtrate antigens to investigate development response over time and its specificity by comparison tuberculosis human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients. Significant gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production whole-blood was detected ulcers, which higher than that nodules but similar subjects healed BU. The mean IFN-γ household contacts BU not significantly different healthy control an area nonendemicity. Results untreated, smear-positive pulmonary on treatment for more 2 weeks showed responded better In contrast, interleukin-10 results were active those lesions, pattern seen tuberculosis. A found using as antigen. Neither two appeared be specific sonicate. early stages there mixed Th1 Th2 response, emerged dominant type.