Recent data from mice and non-human primate models of tuberculosis suggested that CD153, a TNF super family member, plays an important role in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) control. However, this molecule has not been comprehensively evaluated in humans. Here, we show that the proportion of Mtb-specific CD4 T cells expressing CD153 was significantly reduced in active TB patients compared to latently infected persons. Importantly, the CD153+ Mtb-specific CD4 response inversely correlated with lung bacterial load, inferred by Xpert cycle threshold, irrespective of HIV status. Antitubercular treatment partially restored CD153 expression on Mtb-specific CD4 T cells. This is the first report of a subset of Mtb-specific CD4 T cells showing strong negative correlation with bacterial burden. Building on substantial evidence from animal models implicating CD153 as a mediator of host protection, our findings suggest it may play a similar role in humans and its measurement may be useful to evaluate TB vaccine efficacy.

来自小鼠和非人类灵长类动物结核病模型的最新数据表明，TNF 超家族成员 CD153 在结核分枝杆菌中起重要作用(Mtb) 控制。然而，这种分子尚未在人体中得到全面评估。在这里，我们表明与潜伏感染者相比，活动性结核病患者中表达 CD153 的 Mtb 特异性 CD4 T 细胞的比例显着降低。重要的是，CD153+ Mtb 特异性 CD4 反应与肺部细菌负荷呈负相关，由 Xpert 循环阈值推断，与 HIV 状态无关。抗结核治疗部分恢复了 Mtb 特异性 CD4 T 细胞上的 CD153 表达。这是 Mtb 特异性 CD4 T 细胞子集的第一份报告，显示与细菌负荷呈强负相关。基于动物模型的大量证据表明 CD153 作为宿主保护的介质，我们的研究结果表明它可能在人类中发挥类似的作用，其测量可能有助于评估 TB 疫苗的功效。