CHANGE OF EFFECTOR PROPERTIES OF EOSINOPHIL GRANULOCYTES IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS
Eosinophil granulocytes are aggressive inflammatory effector cells which have a wide range of cytotoxic proteins as well as phagocytic activity. With the attraction of modern immunological research methods, we assessed the cytotoxic properties as well as the phagocytic and adhesive abilities of peripheral blood eosinophils in pulmonary tuberculosis. In the course of the conducted research, we established an increase in the adhesive properties and the phagocytic function of eosinophils in combination with a decrease in the activity of eosinophil peroxidase in TB patients. Moreover, in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with eosinophilia the content of CD18-presenting eosinophils and the activity of eosinophil peroxidase turned out to be higher than in patients without eosinophilia. Pulmonary tuberculosis (especially in conjunction with eosinophilic blood reaction) is characterized by high activity of eosinophil granulocytes – in relation to their further accumulation in the focus of granulomatous inflammation – which can realize their cytotoxic potential with respect to both Micobacterium tuberculosis and «healthy» lung tissue.