Levels of anti-cytokine antibodies may be elevated in patients with pulmonary disease associated with non-tuberculous mycobacteria

作者：Kim Kyungchul; Waterer Grant; Thomson Rachel; Yang Ian A; Nashi Najla; Tan Dino B A; Price Patricia^*

来源：Cytokine, 2014, 66(2): 160-163.

DOI：10.1016/j.cyto.2014.01.005

• Non-tuberculous mycobacteria
• Interferon-gamma
• Autoantibody
• Cytokine
• Pulmonary disease

Pulmonary disease due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is caused by several species (particularly Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare) that are abundant in the environment. Th1 cytokines such as interferon (IFN)-gamma are important in the control of mycobacteria, but in vitro production of IFN-gamma is not deficient in adult patients with pulmonary NTM disease. Antibodies reactive with IFN-gamma have been described in patients with disseminated NTM disease, but it is not clear whether they are common in pulmonary disease. Here we show that patients with pulmonary NTM have a higher level of anti-IFN-gamma and anti-GM-CSF antibodies than healthy controls, although some controls also have high levels. Levels of anti-IFN-gamma antibodies did not correlate with levels of total immunoglobulin. Longitudinal studies are required to determine whether anti-cytokine autoantibodies are consequence rather than a cause of pulmonary NTM disease.

• 出版日期2014-4