Late-breaking abstract: Expression of IFN-g/IL-10 in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients and household contacts

There is an increase in the prevalence of tuberculosis in young adults. Since,cytokine mediated immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection are important determinants of disease development and pathology, the aim was to investigate the role of candidate cytokines in active pulmonary tuberculosis patients (APTB) of younger age (15to25yrs) & their HouseHold Contacts (HHC). T cell assays were stimulated with r32-kDa antigen of M.bovis BCG (Ag85A-BCG), IFN-g & IL-10 were measured in the culture supernatants by ELISA in APTB (15), HHC (PPD-positive) (15) & Healthy Controls (HC) (PPD status not known) (15). Expression levels were determined by quantitative real time-PCR in 4 individuals from each group. The mean proliferative responses of stimulated cells were significantly low (p