Activation of peripheral blood neutrophils from patients with active advanced tuberculosis

Activation of peripheral blood neutrophils (PMN) was investigated in order to determine whether they might contribute to the inflammatory process during active advanced tuberculosis. Receptors for the Fc portion of IgG (Fc gammaR) (Fc gamma RI, Fc gamma RII, and Fc gamma RIIIB), CD66 (degranulation marker), and receptors for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-R55 and TNF-R75) were analyzed on PMN obtained from normal controls and tuberculosis patients (TB-PMN). Functional parameters such as cytotoxicity, superoxide anion generation triggered by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenyl-alanine (FMLP), and TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta production were evaluated, A high expression of TNF-R55, CD66, and Fc gamma RIIIB and the appearance of Fc gamma RI were detected in TB-PMN. In addition, cytotoxicity, superoxide anion release, and TNF-LY and IL-1 beta production were enhanced in TB-PMN. Thus, in tuberculosis, the activation of PMN outside the focus of infection strongly suggests the possibility of a systemic inflammation that could modulate the inflammatory response. (C) 2001 Academic Press.