IFN-g production during active tuberculosis is regulated by mechanisms that involve IL-17, SLAM and CREB.

PASQUINELLI VIRGINIA; TOWNSEND JAMES C; JURADO JAVIER O; ALVAREZ IVANA B; QUIROGA M. FLORENCIA; BARNES PETER F; SAMTEN BUKA; GARCIA VERÓNICA E.

JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

UNIV CHICAGO PRESS

Año: 2009 vol. 199 p. 661 - 665

0022-1899

Interferon-g (IFN-g) is crucial for protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and the transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) increases IFN-g transcription. We determined whether the transmembrane receptor signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) affect CREB phosphorylation and IFN-g production in persons with tuberculosis. When T cells from patients with tuberculosis were activated with M. tuberculosis, 80% of SLAM T cells expressed phosphorylated CREB, and SLAM activation increased CREB phosphorylation and IFN-g production. In contrast, IL-17 down-regulated SLAM expression,CREBphosphorylation, and IFN-g production.Therefore, IL-17 and SLAM have opposing effects on IFN-g production through CREB activation in persons with tuberculosis.