MECHANISMS AND FEATURES OF IMMUNE STATUS AND "OXIDATIVE STRESS - ANTIOXIDANT PROTECTION" SYSTEM IN PATIENTS WITH TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract

The study of the human immune system state in infection with M. tuberculosis is relevant because the course and outcome of this disease are largely determined by the immune status of the patient. However, 98 % of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis have an immune imbalance. It is known that in the protection against tuberculosis an important role belongs to the body's natural resistance, which is provided by a variety of cellular and humoral factors, physicochemical characteristics of tissues, lymphoid cells, leukocyte and macrophage responses and genetic resistance. When mycobacteria enter the body, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, monocytes and macrophages are the main phagocytic cells. Optimally high level of resistance to the pathogen develops only in the coordinated interaction of T−lymphocytes with macrophages. Studies of cellular immunity and genetic markers have shown that the course of tuberculosis infection is associated with suppression of their functional activity. Immune response deregulation is closely related to oxidative stress, which results from an imbalance between free reactive oxygen species and antioxidant mechanisms, with a higher risk of developing it rather in lungs than other organs. Many studies have presented the results of studying the state of the immune system and the "oxidative stress − antioxidant protection" system in tuberculosis. This is an important component, because the clinical course and outcome of treatment is largely determined by the status of these systems. A number of experts point out that the study of immunological and oxidative parameters in tuberculosis is of a great importance for deciding on the tactics of treatment and the choice of direction of influence on the course of the disease. Key words: M. Tuberculosis, immunity in tuberculosis, oxidative stress, antioxidant protection.