Study about cell-mediated immune effect of heparin-binding hemagglutinin adhesin and purified protein derivative

Objective To investigate the immune effect of heparin-binding hemagglutinin adhesin (HBHA) and purified protein derivative (PPD), and to estimate the potential immune protection and diagnostic value of HBHA. Methods Native HBHA and PPD were used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuelear cells from different infected-cases including control group, latent tuberculosis(LTB) group,pulmonary tuberculosis group. The interferon-gamma(IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 in the supernatant of culture were detected. Results The median level of IFN-γ of the three groups stimulated with HBHA was 49. 5 ng/L,781.9 ng/L,341.8 ng/L, respectively. The results showed that HBHA specific IFN-γ level of LTB group was much higher than that of control group,and slightly higher than that of pulmonary tuberculosis group. HBHA specific IFN-γ in patients of different treatment time was different. Conclusions The experiment conforms that HBHA has good immunogenicity and can stimulate LTB to release high level IFN-γ It is suggested that LTB does not develop active tuberculosis possibly by HBHA protection. HBHA specific IFN-γ release may identify LTB from the healthy. Key words: Mycobacterium tuberculosis;  Heparin-binding hemagglutinin adhesin;  Interferon-gamma