Dados do Trabalho

Título

THE BALLET OF REGULATORY T CELLS: REVEALING THEIR ROLE IN TUBERCULOSIS PATHOGENESIS

Introdução

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), is a global health threat, claiming over 1 million lives in 2021. Understanding the immune response to Mtb is crucial for pathogen clearance. Investigating the role of regulatory T cells in TB is essential for comprehending its immunological mechanisms.

Objetivo (s)

This study aims to enhance our knowledge of Tregs' role in TB, providing insights to drive future research and therapeutic strategies.

Material e Métodos

This review explores recent experimental articles published in English or Portuguese between 2019 and 2024, investigating the response of Treg lymphocytes to pulmonary or extrapulmonary TB in both human and murine models. The PubMed/MEDLINE, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and CAPES Periodical databases were used. The search utilized the descriptors: "Mycobacterium" AND "Tuberculosis" AND "Treg" AND "T regulatory". Articles from 2018 and earlier, non-experimental studies, and grey literature were excluded. The selected articles were carefully examined, emphasizing key points for discussion, and the methodological quality was assessed by 2 reviewers independently.

Resultados e Conclusão

The analysis identified 11,565 studies: 28 from PubMed, 1,003 from ScienceDirect, 72 from Scopus, 10,170 from Google Scholar, and 292 from CAPES Periodical. Following the search and application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, we identified 7 articles. In TB patients, heightened immune activity was evident with increased CD4+ FOXP3+ T cells, particularly in active TB cases. Elevated immune activation and corresponding Treg increase may indicate immune dysregulation, predisposing patients to various TB forms, particularly relapse. Recent studies highlighted a greater presence of CD8+ CD28- Treg in pulmonary TB, correlating inversely with microbial quantity, influencing disease severity. Exposure of Tregs to cigarette smoke exacerbated Mtb proliferation, compromising infection control. Pharmacological modulation of Tregs showed promise in decreasing Treg proportions post-treatment in TB patients, indicating therapeutic potential. In conclusion, maintaining the balance between Treg and effector responses is crucial for infection resolution and minimizing host damage. Modulating Treg dynamics shows potential for prevention and treatment, encouraging further research to refine therapeutic approaches.

Palavras Chave

mycobacterium; T lymphocytes; regulation; immune system