Figure 1.

Tuberculosis (TB)-specific mucosal immune responses are important for protection against latent TB infection (LTBI) reactivation. Th1 CD4+ and Th17 CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, γ₉δ₂ T-cells, mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and sIgA/IgG antibody responses are potentially protective against LTBI reactivation which could reduce both TB disease and TB transmission.

Notes: All of these T-cell responses will be considered major targets for immunotherapy in this project because they can recognize intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the major pathogen reservoir during LTBI. Mucosal antibody responses also could protect against initial infection and transmission, and are being studied in other funded work by our consortium of investigators. CD4+ regulatory T-cell, T-cell exhaustion, alternatively activated macrophages unable to kill intracellular M. tuberculosis and type I IFN-induced polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes can negatively regulate protective immunity in the lung.