Macrophage profiles in drug-resistant tuberculosis patients and their close contacts: A pilot study

Macrophages play a key role in controlling tuberculosis infection. This pilot study aimed to analyze the macrophage profile in drug-resistant tuberculosis patients compared to a group of close contacts diagnosed with latent infection and a group of healthy. The Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) was tested on the close contact group to determine their infection status. PBMCs were cultured using RPMI 1640 medium with M-CSF and autologous serum, incubated for 7 days at 37^oC with 5 % CO₂ Incubator. Macrophage profiles were analyzed using the flow cytometry technique with CD68⁺, CD80⁺, CD206⁺ markers, and the cytokine profiles were analyzed using multiplex immunoassay. The results of the IGRA showed that of the 18 close contact subjects, 8 subjects (44.4 %) were declared latent infected (LTBI) and 10 subjects (55.6 %) were declared healthy. The results showed that the macrophage population exhibit CD206⁺ expression in each group, which showed a tendency for macrophages toward the M2 type (Kruskal-Wallis, p > 0.05). Cytokine examination showed high IL-10 levels in each group (Kruskal-Wallis, p > 0.05). This research is expected to provide information regarding the characteristics of macrophages as components of innate immune cells which have an important role in tuberculosis infection.