Role of Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in predicting treatment outcomes and disease severity in tuberculosis

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an age-old disease that remains a significant global public health issue. The protective response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is a complex and multifaceted process involving several components of the immune system, primarily driven by the cooperation between macrophages and T-cell populations. Various animal and human studies have well established the influential roles that cytokines and chemokines play in determining the outcome of MTB infection. The study focused on assessing the influence of Th1 and Th2 responses in tuberculosis by examining the current cytokine profiles in TB patients, emphasizing Th1 and Th2 cytokines, and comparing these profiles with those of patients undergoing treatment and a control group. Additionally, the relationship between cytokine status and the patients’ sex and age was assessed. The analysis of Th1/Th2 cytokines revealed a dichotomy between untreated and treated conditions. The results showed that untreated individuals suffered from a Th1 cytokine deficiency. However, this condition was reversed following the administration of anti-TB antibiotics, with patients who received these drugs showing a shift towards a protective Th1 cytokine profile. Cytokines play a decisive role in various infectious diseases, and this study confirms that TB is among them. The findings from this research could pave the way for novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in tuberculosis research.