Expression profile of CXCL12 chemokine during M. tuberculosis infection with different therapeutic interventions in guinea pig

Abstract Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) already established as an immune-modulator in mycobacterial infections generates immune response by acting on CXC chemokines. In the present study, the immunomodulatory effect of MIP in conjunction with chemotherapy against M.tb infection was evaluated by colony forming units (CFUs) following aerosol infection to guinea pig and by measuring CXCL12 chemokine expression using q-PCR and in situ RT-PCR. Different experimental groups included, infection (Rv), immunoprophylaxis (RvMw), chemotherapy (RvCh) and combination of immunoprophylaxis + chemotherapy (RvChMw) group and normal healthy (NH) group. In the combination of immunoprophylaxis + chemotherapy (RvChMw) group, the CFU counts reduced significantly ( p