<i>In Vivo</i> and <i>In Vitro</i> Studies of a Novel Cytokine, Interleukin 4δ2, in Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Abstract

A Th2-like response, prominent in T cells and driven by tuberculosis antigen, is present in tuberculosis and modulated by treatment, suggesting a role for IL-4 and IL-4delta2 in the pathogenesis of tuberculosis and their ratio as a possible marker of disease activity. The specific antigens inducing the IL-4 response require identification to facilitate future vaccine development strategies.