TB-IRIS: proteomic analysis of in vitro PMBC responses to mycobacterium tuberculosis and response modulation by dexamethasone

Paradoxical tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome(TB-IRIS) occurs in 8���54% of South African patients undergoing treatment for tuberculosis/human immunodeficiency virus co-infection. Improved TB-IRIS molecular pathogenesis understanding would enhance risk stratification, diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment. We assessed how TB-IRIS status and dexamethasone influence leukocyte proteomic responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Patient blood was obtained three weeks post-anti-retroviral therapy initiation. Isolated mononuclear cells were stimulated ex vivo with heat-killed Mtb in the presence/absence of dexamethasone. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic comparison of TB-IRIS and non-IRIS patient-derived cells facilitated generation of hypotheses regarding pathogenesis. Few represented TB-IRIS-group immune-related pathways achieved significant activation, with relative underutilisation of ���inter-cellular interaction��� and ���Fc�� receptor-mediated phagocytosis��� (but a tendency towards apoptosis-related) pathways. Dexamethasone facilitated significant activation of innate-related pathways. Differentially-expressed non-IRIS-group proteins suggest focused and co-ordinated immunological pathways, regardless of dexamethasone status. Findings suggest a relative deficit in TB-IRIS-group responses to and clearance of Mtb antigens, ameliorated by dexamethasone.