The Role of Caldesmon CaD, Integrin αV, Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases TIMP-1 in Molecular Mechanisms of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Development

The objective: to study the role of CaD proteins, αV integrin and TIMP-1 in the development of pulmonary tuberculosis. Subjects and Methods. 27 specimens of pulmonary tuberculomas were used for this study. The specimens were divided into 3 goups in accordance with the degree of inflammatory and reparative changes occurring in the tuberculoma tissue. The targeting proteins were visualized by immunohistochemical methods. For quantification, the relative area of expression of signaling molecules was counted. The obtained data were statistically processed based on nonparametric criteria. Results. Data analysis showed an increased level of CaD expression during wall epithelialisation compared to the group with no connective tissue repair, which was associated with the involvement of CaD in the concomitant repair and fibrosis formation. Statistically significant differences in the expression levels of αV integrin between Groups 2 and 3 were found in the case of granuloma inflammation. The decrease in the protein levels from Group 2 to Group 3 may be due to activation of the anti-inflammatory mediator TGFβ1 and induction of M2 macrophages. The results of testing TIMP-1 expression level demonstrated its involvement both in granuloma fibrosis and formation of connective tissue complex in the inflammation site. The obtained data indicate that the studied proteins can be considered as informative biomarkers in molecular diagnostics and assessment of prognosis of pulmonary tuberculosis development.