CD4 and CD20 as important immune markers in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious lung infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is highly contagious, and can be spread through the air from an infected person to others. The aim of this article was to evaluate the immunological role of CD4 and CD20 in patients infected with M. tuberculosis and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB). A total of 182 individuals suspected with M. tuberculosis admitted to the tuberculosis center in AL-Najaf City, Iraq. A sputum acid-fast stain was performed for each individual and GeneXpert® heminested real time PCR has been performed for MDR-M. tuberculosis detection. CD4 and CD20 have been measurement in serum of infected individual using ELISA technique. Serum CD4 and CD20 levels were significantly elevated (P<0.05) in patients with M. tuberculosis and MDR-M. tuberculosis groups as compared with control subjects. The MDRTB group showed higher serum CD4 and CD20 levels (P<0.05) than the M. tuberculosis group. This study showed that CD4 and CD20 had a relationship with M. tuberculosis and might be used to help diagnose TB.